Incident Summary:

06/05/2009: On Friday, in Wabxo, Galgudud, Somalia, in an effort to control the village, armed assailants fired upon, by unknown means, the pro-government Sufi group, Ahla Sunna Waljamaca, and captured four armed trucks. 64 people were killed in the fighting, including 36 fighters and a unknown number of people were injured. No material damage was reported. Al-Shabaab al-Islamiya and the Islamic Party claimed responsibility for the attack.

GTD ID:
200906050019

When:
2009-06-05

Country:
Somalia

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Galguduud

City:
Near Wabxo

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Unknown
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Terrorists/Non-state Militia
Name of Entity Ahla Sunna Waljamaca
Specific Description A pro-government militia group
Nationality of Target Somalia
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Unknown
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Unknown
Weapon Details
Unknown weapons were used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) No
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Intra/Inter-group Conflict
Additional Information The available sources listed the fatalities for this attack from 60 to 123, and the injuries for this attack are unknown, and because no majority figures were reported, the lowest proferred casualty figures were used in order to preserve statistical accuracy in the database. It is unknown if civilians were the target of this attack.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Al-Shabaab (suspected) Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Unknown)
Hizbul al Islam (Somalia) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 64 Fatalities
Total Number of Fatalities 64
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 36
Total Number of Injured Unknown
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured Unknown
Sources
Abdi Sheikh, Reuters, "Somali battle kills 123, rebels deny leader Aweys dead," http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L6559721.htm (June 06, 2009).
National Counterterrorism Center, "Nine Civilians, 60 Paramilitary Members Killed, Several Dozen Others Wounded in Armed Attack in Wabxo, Galguduud, Somalia," Worldwide Incidents Tracking System, November, 18, 2009.
Agence France Presse, "Central Somalia Fighting Leaves 64 Dead," LexisNexis Academic, Agence France Presse, June 06, 2009.