At least one person died and dozens others injured when a salvo of mortars targeting Somalia’s presidential palace in Mogadishu missed and landed on a nearby neighbourhood on Monday, residents said.
According to sources, the mortars were destined to the Palace in Wardhigle district, but missed and landed in a residential area.
” A small kid died and more than 10 were injured. This attack has left many residents in a state of shock and fear,” said Jibril Ali, a local resident.
No one has claimed the responsibility of the shelling, but Somali militant group al-Shabaab carried out similar attacks in the past.
It is the second time in less than a month mortars have landed in an area very close to the Presidential Palace.
Villa Somalia is a heavily fortified, but neglected compound in the heart of the city where the most senior Somali government officials, including the president, have their offices. Some also live inside the compound.
Since the al-Qaeda-linked militant group was pushed out of the capital, it has carried a number of assassinations and suicide attacks in which it targeted government and security officers.
In 2014, al-Shabaab twice launched spectacular attacks on the Presidential palace highlighting their ability to penetrate and conduct strikes in an area regarded as the most secure oasis in Mogadishu.
