(B2) A five-vehicle convoy carrying (Italian) trainers and military from the European Union Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) was targeted by a vehicle bomb attack on Monday (October 1), at 12:10 p.m. local time, in Mogadishu, indicated the general staff of the Italian army.
No victim among the EUTM
The convoy was returning from a training activity for the Somali security forces. A light armored vehicle, of the Lince (Lynx) type, with four soldiers on board, was hit by the explosives located in the kamikaze vehicle, but very slightly. "
No Italian soldiers were injured “, indicated the
Staff of the Italian army. "
The vehicle was slightly damaged and returned to base, under its own power. ""
The vehicle has suffered some damage, but it is still driving “, confirmed to B2 a European source. "
There are no dead or injured EUTM Somalia troops “, we were told. "
No EUTM Somalia personnel were injured and the convoy returned safely “, the EUTM mission officially confirmed shortly after. "
No shots were fired by EUTM Somalia either during or after the explosion. Unfortunately, civilians in the vicinity of the attack would be among the casualties. »
Several civilian casualties
The attack occurred on a major artery of the Somali capital, the industrial road, not far (about 700 meters) from the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence. There are three dead - two civilians who were close to the explosion and the author (one of the authors?) of the attack, as well as four wounded who were taken to hospital, according to the agency
Reuters. The nationality of the victims and their function is not known at this time. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Somali Al Shabab.
The EU remains present in Somalia
«
This once again shows that Somali civilians are paying the highest price for the terrorist threat in the country. “Reacted the spokesperson for the High Representative on Monday evening. "
This attack will not prevent the EU from committing to support the authorities and people of Somalia in their efforts to build a more stable and prosperous future. »
First direct attack against an EUTM vehicle
This is the first time that the European mission in Somalia has been deliberately targeted by an attack. Members of the EUCAP Somalia and EUNAVFOR Atalanta mission were injured in an attack targeting a restaurant very popular with foreigners in May 2014. But it was in Djibouti and the attack targeted the entire expatriate community and not directly the European flag (read
here). (Nicolas Gros-Verheyde) Updated at 17:15 p.m. (details collected by B2 and contextual elements) and 20:30 p.m. with the
reaction of the EUTM Mali mission and the spokesperson for the High Representative
