Three journalists were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a
graduation ceremony in the capital,
In all, the explosion claimed the lives of at least 23 people, including several
top government officials, according to news reports. Hassan Zubeyr, a cameraman for
Al-Arabiya television, and Mohamed Amin, a Radio Shabelle reporter, were pronounced
dead at the scene. Abdulkadir, a freelance photographer, died at a local
hospital later in the day.
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.
Abdulkadir, 28, had gained attention in September, when he was
the sole photojournalist to cover a suicide attack against African Union peacekeepers.