Incident Summary:

12/26/2009: On Saturday, in Kismaayo, Jubbada Hoose, Somalia, assailants kidnapped two journalists identified as Anwar Muhammad Hared and Muhammad Abdi Olow. Hared works for Horseed Radio based in Bossaso town while Olow reports for Radio Banaadir in Mogadishu. The two were kidnapped because they allegedly reported without the consent of Al Shabaab. On 12/27/2009, the assailants released the victims. No group claimed responsibility, although it was widely believed al-Shabaab al-Islamiya was responsible.

GTD ID:
200912260012

When:
2009-12-26

Country:
Somalia

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Lower Juba

City:
Kismayo

Location Details:
The incident occurred in rural Kismayo, Lower Juba, Somalia.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Journalists & Media
Name of Entity Horseed Radio
Specific Description Anwar Muhammad Hared from Horseed Radio based in Bossaso.
Nationality of Target Somalia
Target Type: Journalists & Media
Name of Entity Radio Banaadir
Specific Description Muhammad Abdi Olow from Radio Banaadir in Mogadishu.
Nationality of Target Somalia
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 2
US Hostages 0
Days of Kidnapping 1
Outcome Hostage(s) released by perpetrators
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Unknown
Weapon Details
It is unknown if weapons were used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Al-Shabaab (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
National Counterterrorism Center, "Two Journalists Kidnapped by Suspected Al-Shabaab Al-Islamiya in Chisimayu, Jubbada Hoose, Somalia," Worldwide Incidents Tracking System, April 23, 2010.
BBC Monitoring Africa, "Islamists Arrest Two Local Journalists in Southern Somalia," LexisNexis Academic, BBC Monitoring Africa, December 26, 2009.