Incident Summary:

04/19/2019: An explosive device detonated targeting Abdirashid Osman Arab, a Deputy District Commissioner, in Mahas, Hiiraan, Somalia. Arab was killed and two of his bodyguards were injured in the blast. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the incident.

GTD ID:
201904190012

When:
2019-04-19

Country:
Somalia

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Hiiraan

City:
Mahas

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Assassination
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity Government of Somalia
Specific Description Deputy District Commissioner: Abdirashid Osman Arab
Nationality of Target Somalia
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity Somali Police Force (SPF)
Specific Description Senior Commander
Nationality of Target Somalia
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Not Applicable
Specific Description Civilians
Nationality of Target Somalia
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Remote Trigger
Weapon Details
A remote-controlled roadside bomb was 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
Additional Information Casualty numbers conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the majority reliable estimates are reported here.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Al-Shabaab Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Unknown)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 1 Fatalities / 2 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 1
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 2
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Somalia: Al-Shabaab Roadside Bomb Kills Government Official in Hiiraan Region," Garowe Online, April 19, 2019.
"Somalia: Al-Shabaab Militants Kill District Official, Bodyguards in Central Region of Hiiraan," Dhacdo.com, April 19, 2019.
"Somalia’s senior government official killed in latest IED explosion," Radio Dalsan, April 20, 2019.