Toll from Mogadishu national theatre bombing rises

Reporters Without Borders has learned from its sources that two other journalists were injured in yesterday’s suicide bombing in Mogadishu while the Committee to Protect Journalists has named two additional media people as having sustained injuries. This brings the number of journalists injured in the bombing in the national theatre to 11. At least five of these journalists sustained serious injuries and were taken to Mogadishu’s Madina Hospital. The nine journalists identified by Reporters Without Borders: - Mohamed Shariif of radio Bar-Kulan - Ahmed Ali Kahiye of Radio Kulmiye. He is still unconscious after undergoing an operation to the kidneys and stomach to stop internal bleeding. - Ayaan Abdullahi Guure (Ayaan Abdi) of Somalia 24 TV. She sustained head and leg injuries. - Deeqo Mohamed Ahmed of Radio Mogadishu. She sustained multiple head injuries. - Hamdi Mohammed Hassan Hiis of Somali Channel TV. She sustained head and leg injuries. - Said Shire Warsame of Shabelle TV. He is in a critical condition as a result of burns all over his body and is having difficulty breathing. - Mulki Hassan Hayle, a woman journalist with Royal TV. - Mikail Hassan Ali of Somali national television. - Abdulkadir Mohamed Hassan of Somali national television. The Committee to Protect Journalists said Suleiman Sheikh Ismail, a freelance journalist, and Abdi Hajj, a former reporter, were also among the injured. Reporters Without Borders is following developments closely and is ready to provide medical and financial assistance to the victims. The Islamist militia Al-Shabaab has not claimed direct responsibility for the bombing but a spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mohamed Rage, said it was carried out by a female supporter of Al-Shabaab. Photos : Somali journalists wounded (Yusuf Keynan) ----------- 04.04.2012 - Seven journalists wounded in suicide bombing at Mogadishu theatre Reporters Without Borders is deeply shocked by the suicide bombing that killed several people and wounded many others at a ceremony in Somalia’s national theatre in Mogadishu marking the first anniversary of the country’s national television station reopening. At least seven journalists covering the event were seriously wounded. “We condemn this despicable attack in the strongest possible terms and our thoughts are with the many victims,” the press freedom organization said. “As it is often the case when the perpetrators want to strike at the heart of the transitional government, the attack was carried out at a public event covered by the media and attended by many people, including officials.” Reporters Without Borders is ready to offer material and financial assistance to the injured journalists.    A journalist with Radio Ergo said:  “I am in a shocked mood, sitting 50 metres away from the spot. The whole area has been damaged, there are windows blown out.” He said the area was littered with bodies. According to reports received by Reporters Without Borders, a woman carrying a concealed device blew herself up as she mingled with the crowd. The injured journalists were named as: -       Mohamed Shariif of the radio station Bar-Kulan -       Ahmed Ali Kahiye of Radio Kulmiye  -       Ayaan Abdi (female) of the television station Somalie 24 -       Deeqo Mohamed Ahmed (female) of Radio Mogadiscio -       Hamdi Mohammed Hassan Hiis (female) of Somali Channel TV -       Said Shire Warsame of Shabelle TV -       Mulki Hassan Hayle (female) of Royal TV The method of the attack -- a suicide bombing in Mogadishu at an event attended by many figures from the transitional federal government -- appeared to point to the al-Shabaab militia. Photo : Bomb attack in Mogadishu (AFP/Abdurashid Abdulle)