Mohamed Amin

Radio Shabelle

December 3, 2009, in Mogadishu, Somalia

Three journalists were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a Benadir University graduation ceremony in the capital, Mogadishu. In all, the explosion claimed the lives of at least 23 people, including several top government officials, according to news reports. Amin, a Radio Shabelle reporter, and Hassan Zubeyr, a cameraman for Al-Arabiya television, were pronounced dead at the scene. Abdulkhafar Abdulkadir, a freelance photographer, died at a local hospital later in the day.

Minister of Information Dahir Mohamud Gelle told reporters that the suicide bomber was a suspected Al-Shabaab insurgent who was targeting government ministers attending the ceremony at the Hotel Shamo. Gelle said Health Minister Qamar Aden, Education Minister Ahmed Abdullahi, and Higher Education Minister Ibrahim Hassan were killed. The minister of sports and tourism, Suleiman Olad Roble, died two days later from injuries suffered in the attack.

Amin, 24, had worked for Radio Shabelle for just six months. Both of his parents had recently been killed, making him the family’s primary provider. 

Medium: Radio

Job: Broadcast Reporter

Beats Covered: Culture, War

Gender: Male

Local or Foreign: Local

Freelance: No

Type of Death: Crossfire/Combat-Related

Suspected Source of Fire: Political Group

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• In African hot spots, journalists forced into exile, February 16, 2010
• Attacks on the Press 2009: Somalia, February 16, 2010
• My experience at the deadly Hotel Shamo bombing, December 17, 2009