Incident Summary:

03/22/2018: A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle outside the Wehliye Hotel along Maka al-Mukarama road in Mogadishu, Somalia. In addition to the assailant, at least 17 people, including two soldiers, were killed and 20 people were injured in the blast. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

GTD ID:
201803220015

When:
2018-03-22

Country:
Somalia

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Banaadir

City:
Mogadishu

Location Details:
The incident occurred along Maka al-Mukarama road.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Business
Name of Entity Wehliye Hotel
Specific Description Hotel
Nationality of Target Somalia
Target Type: Military
Name of Entity Somali Armed Forces (SAF)
Specific Description Soldiers
Nationality of Target Somalia
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Not Applicable
Specific Description Civilian: Hussein Mohamed Dirir
Nationality of Target Norway
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Vehicle
Weapon Details
An explosives-laden tricycle motorcycle was used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?Yes
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Casualty numbers conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the most recent reliable estimates are reported here.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Al-Shabaab Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Personal claim)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 1
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 18 Fatalities / 20 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 18
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 1
Total Number of Injured 20
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Death toll from al-Shabaab hotel attack in Mogadishu rises to 17," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, March 23, 2018.
"3RD LEAD," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, March 22, 2018.
"Somalia: Death Toll From Mogadishu Blast Rises To 17," Radio Kulmiye Online, March 23, 2018.