Italian Military Convoy Hit by Car Bomb in Mogadishu

An Italian troop convoy operating with the EU in Somalia was hit by a car bomb on September 30, resulting in injuries to civilians, according to reports.

In a statement, the EU Training Mission in Somalia confirmed one of its convoys was struck, no troops were hurt, and two vehicles were damaged. “While returning from an activity in Villa Gashandigha, the HQ of the Somali Ministry of Defence and Somali National Army General Staff, an EUTM-Somalia convoy was hit by an explosion at 11:16 local time,” the statement said. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Video posted to Twitter showed the aftermath of the explosion, as smoke rose up in the distance. The Italian Defense Ministry reported that the convoy was carrying Italian members of the EU mission. Footage taken by local reporters showed a piece of debris with an Italian flag sticker affixed to it, though it was unclear where the debris came from.

The incident in Mogadishu was one of two major terrorist attacks on foreign targets in Somalia on September 30. Al-Shabaab also claimed responsibility for a separate attack on a US base in Baledogle, roughly 100 km west of Mogadishu. In a statement, the US Mission to Somalia said that Al-Shabaab fighters failed to breach the “outer defensive perimeters of the base.” Credit: Mo Dahir via Storyful