Mogadishu, 22 Jan 2015 (Qalin) – the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, today spoke to the media on a terrorist attack that took place at the SYL Hotel in central Mogadishu this afternoon. The President spoke to the media from the hotel itself.
The President stated: “The security forces have confirmed that, at 2.45 PM two
terrorists crashed a car into the gate of the SYL Hotel in central Mogadishu and
then detonated an explosive device, killing the driver and two guards. I offer my
sincere condolences to the families of the two guards who were killed in the attack.
The driver’s accomplice was shot and killed by members of the Somali security
forces who were in the area and responded quickly to the incident.
“The attack coincided with a meeting in the hotel between Somali government staff
and the visiting Turkish delegation ahead of tomorrow’s visit of the Turkish
President. There were no further casualties and the Federal Government of Somalia
has already launched an investigation into the attack. That is all the information
that I can share with you at the moment but I will update you as more details become
available.”
The President continued: “As we have pointed out on many occasions, these days
al-Shabaab seek to thrive in the headlines and in our imaginations. But they have
little real presence in real terms, like providing security or services or education
or jobs. I am sad, though, that a young man had to give his life for a headline that
will be forgotten by tomorrow morning.
It is a tragic waste and I condemn the leaders who exploit young men to the extent that they commit acts such as this.”
HE the President concluded: “But rest assured, the momentum is with the Federal
Government of Somalia and with the people of Somalia, not with the terrorists.
The acts of the terrorists are becoming more and more irrelevant by the day, as today’s
incident proves – but we must still be watchful, and I remind the citizens of their
role in securing the country. And tomorrow we will welcome a great friend of
Somalia, the President of Turkey, Recip Tayyip Erdogan, to Mogadishu and we will
provide you with considerably better headlines.”
