Mogadishu- Somalia government said that a former member of the Somali Parliament was among three persons killed on Thursday in a drive-by shooting in Mogadishu, while a current lawmaker was wounded.
Abdi Ali, Somali Senior Security Official, said four persons travelling in a luxury car and armed with AK-47 rifles opened fire on the car of Mayow Mustaf, a Parliamentarian,. Liban Abdullahi Nor, a former lawmaker, and two bodyguards were killed.
He said the security forces gave chase, but the attackers threw hand grenades and escaped, but the search for the perpetrators was continuing.
Prime Minister Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly terrorist act.”
Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab Spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu-Muscab told the pro-insurgent radio station Andalus, that his group was behind the attack and said more attacks on government officials were coming.
This followed a suicide car bombing Wednesday on a UN peacekeeping convoy outside Mogadishu’s airport, which killed five people, two Somali security officers, two civilians and the bomber.
Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack. (dpa/NAN)