Reports from security authorities indicate that Brigadier General Mohamed Ali Bariise was the target of the huge blast that was heard in Mogadishu’s Hodan neighborhood early on Thursday.
Brig. Gen. Bariise is the immediate former Deputy Commander of Somali National Army (SNA) who was sacked by President Mohamed Farmaajo in February 2020.
Farmaajo sacked him after Al-Shabaab killed 24 soldiers during a twin attack conducted in Southwest Somalia.
While speaking to the media, Brig. Gen. Bariise confirmed that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off near his vehicle.
Fortunately, Bariise was not injured but two of his bodyguards suffered minor injuries for which they are receiving treatment in hospital.
Al-Shabaab chose the scene of the blast carefully considering that it is near the residence of Abdiqasim Salad, who served as the President of Somalia between 2000 and 2004.
It is also near the former Banadir Secondary School.
Security authorities in Mogadishu are currently proceeding with investigations into the landmine blast.