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Subscribe to RSSUpdated at 8:30 p.m. ET: The president of Somalia's Olympic committee and the head of the country's soccer federation were among the at least six people killed by a female suicide bomber at Mogadishu's newly reopened national theater Wednesday.
Sports official Shafici Mohyadin said the two were killed when the blast hit the first-anniversary celebration of Somalia's satellite television channel. The officials were Aden Yabarow Wiish, the president of the Somali Olympic Committee, and Said Mohamed Nur, head of the Somali Football Federation.
Al-Shabab insurgents claimed responsibility for the blast in yet another stark reminder of the fragile security in the capital, Mogadishu.
The bombing was an apparent attempt to kill the Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali at the TV celebration.
While the al-Qaida-allied militants pulled their fighters out of the capital last August, they have struck targets regularly in the heart of the coastal city using roadside bombs, mortars and suicide bombers.
A soldier guarding the theater said the bomber had been stopped but the premier's security team had insisted she be allowed in because she was carrying police ID.
"The suicide bomber was a young, slim lady with plaited hair. She wore a veil and carried a police identity card," Mohamed Ali, a soldier, told Reuters.
"She sat under the tree in front of the theater for a while. She stood and went toward the theater when she heard the voice of the PM. We were suspicious and shouted 'stop'. She wanted to target the PM. We stopped her. But the PM's guards inside shouted 'let her come in' because she had a police identity card in her hand. And all of a sudden we heard the explosion."
Ali Muse, the head of Mogadishu's ambulance service, earlier said at least 10 people were killed and dozens wounded, including the country's national planning minister, although the higher death toll could not be verified.
Corpses were strewn across the floor of the theater and some of the dead were still in their seats, a Reuters reporter at the scene said. Ambulance workers collected the bodies and sirens wailed as the wounded were rushed to hospitals.
Al-Shabab said it had targeted government officials and lawmakers with explosives planted ahead of the event, and denied that it had used a suicide bomber.
"We were behind the theater blast. We targeted the infidel ministers and legislators, and they were the casualties of today," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, the spokesman for al-Shabab's military operations, told Reuters.
In a statement, the White House expressed its condolences to the Somali people Wednesday, adding that the country had "made great strides in the past months to improve security and rebuild Mogadishu after two decades of civil strife." Al-Shabab is an obstacle in the path of this progress, the statement read.
British Prime Minister David Cameron called the bombing "sickening" and acknowledged the "difficult moment" for everyone involved with Somalia's Olympics efforts.
International Olympic Committee said of Wiish and Nur, "Both men were engaged in improving the lives of Somalian people through sport and we strongly condemn such an act of barbarism. Our thoughts are with the Somalian sporting community who lost two great leaders, and with the families of the victims."
Mogadishu's national theater closed during the early 1990s as the city was engulfed by civil war and terrorism. Many saw its re-opening as a symbolic step on the city's road to normality.
Public entertainment, including theater, were frowned upon by the al-Shabab militants forced out of large parts of the city last year.
Directors had planned to use the theater to stage plays reflecting the transition toward peace, which many parts of the country have recently enjoyed.
NBC News, msnbc.com staff and Reuters contributed to this report.
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I wonder how they will get along with the pirates? Let them battle each other and we in the US can stay out of it. Remember Blackhawk Down.
"Arab news channel Al-Jazeera reported that explosives were detonated by a suspected female suicide bomber at the ceremony."
Did she bomb Islamic style with a niqab/burka or infidel style?
Times are changing fast.
She is connected to al-Qaida. Saudi Arabia and co have certified that they are good terrorists. You see Paki WMDs are good.
So arm al-Qaida and send them all to Syria to battle Syria's Assad, "killer of children and women".
This is very sad. The Olympics are an opportunity for countries to come together in peace. It seems that Al Qaeda have no country and have no honor. I'm not sure what they stand for. I pray they are dealt with appropriately.
WHO CARES,,,,,,,,,,,,,, This is a news story ???
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Somali has an "Olympic" team, What for PIRATING, lol
I don’t
want to make light of the awfulness of this useless act of terror but, it’s at
times like this when I try to define terrorism in my own minds eye. Is
terrorism only limited to wading in to a public place wearing semtex underwear?
Or is it a much broader term? If the purpose of terrorism is to intimidate or
coerce people for political reasons, can we not apply this definition to cruise
missile deployment and bomber sorties? Where is the line drawn between “we” and”
they”?
Psalms Chapter 149
1 Praise ye YHVH. Sing unto YHVH a new song, [and] his praise in the congregation of saints.
2 Let Yisrayl rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For YHVH taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6 [Let] the high [praises] of YHVH [be] in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, [and] punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye YHVH.
The freaking muslim sand monkeys must be the most cowardly humans on the planet. Killing women and kids at random. By the way since it was a woman suicide bomber supposedly, what does she get when she gets to that great big sandy heaven in the sky?
This is yet, just another example of, "This is your brain on Religion".
This is a terrible blow to their chances of sweeping the pirating competition.
The most surprising thing about this story is that Somalia has an Olympics committee.
Proof the world needs to hunt down these animals and put them down!
adam-2513930
are you saying anybody that believes is a fool?
It's incredible most of you aren't aware we had troops in Somalia under George HW Bush.Then Clinton was elected and decided to escalate things for an easy victory with Les Aspin in charge.Only problem is,they didn't want to use armor as Aspin said"it would seem like we were going to war" .Rent the movie "Blackhawk Down" and you'll see a complete cluster f**k by the Clintons and how Bill pulled our troops out with his tail between his legs.
Reading some actual history on the subject might be more educational than watching a Hollywood dramatization. Not as many action shots, I"m sure, but much more accurate.
UNTIL the people/citizens of a country/nation/providence rise up and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and they actively participate in exposing,whistleblowing and refusing to harbor terrorists then it wont matter what anyone does.Local government nor foreign Army can't help people who won't band together to help themselves.
If the UN and the United States intervened they would first be welcomed as liberators and then hated because an immediate purification would not happen.Why? Because the CITIZENS would sit back and not do THEIR part. It has happened time and again.Thats why I say..if We are going to risk American lives to invade and bring order to another country,then THAT country should become a permanent territory of the United States under control of IT'S Government and IT'S laws enforced until it sees that the local Government is SERIOUS and up to speed to control it's own issues.
No soft glove coddling and international community liberal appeasement.
In other words.
"If you act up, then you are gonna get it when your Dad gets home"
When Dad comes home..it's an ass whoopin and your grounded for 2 weeks.For those two weeks Dad re-aligns your discipline and reassesses your reward scale.After those Two weeks...if you are back on track and show that you won't repeat the behavior or can at least control your behavior to avoid the detriment of self..then you can go out and play again.
But it does no good if Dad comes home and says "hey,don't do that" (after saying it 20 times in the past) then props his feet up and falls asleep with a beer.
Sorry if I offend anyone. I just don't like wasted effort.
You mean you can't give people a democracy? What a revoltin' thought! Makes me think of some of those right wing patriotic songs: "Freedom isn't free! You've got to pay the price, you've got to sacrifice, for your liberty"
But hey, don't worry, the UN will condemn the bombing in very strong language.
Odin-
You are ABSOLUTELY correct....!! Until the people in Iraq, AFG, Somalia, Syria et al rise up and clean up their own backyard, no one else will be able to help them. They know who the insurrgents and terrorists are who live in their midst. Until they take up bats, bricks and guns and run these nere-do-wells out of their neighborhoods life will not change for them.
Our Warfighters provided them the opportunity to rise up and take charge of their own destiny. If they do not, that is not GWB or BHO's, Republicans or Democrats fault. It is their fault alone. We did not waste our time and lives unless they allow the bad guys win.
If the future US citizens had done nothing in the 1700's we would still be speaking 'English' and tithing a Queen....
HOOAH - God Bless the USA.....!!!!
We would really like to help you out Somalia but if you remember we tried that once.....and we all know the reception our troops got from the militia and the population. When we were there you had the opportunity to get rid of the warlords (with the help of the US) and you chose the wrong side to support.
Somalia's olympic chairman? WTF? They need to get their priorites in the right order.
First they need to remember there are two types of muslims, (1) Terrorists, (2) those who support terrorists.
I just love you Islam apologists, equivacators, dhimmis and multi-culturalists. In a sense, you're right. It has little to do with religion because Islam has little to do with religion and a lot to do with being a totalitarian, blood-lust ideology of hate, death, savagery and submission. But, then, what can you expect of savages except body parts flying through the air. Yes, it is the Religion of Pieces.
Mexico is probably next. I hope you dhimmi bed wetters like living under Islam. It's coming and this forum for your whining about how bad Western Civilization is will be gone forever. Let me know what you think when some Islamist zombie is slicing you to shreds with a big dirty knife and a psycho-grin on his face.
Do these two gentlemen that died have names? I see no mention of their names in this report. I'd like to know who they are, please!
Jonathan-1982062
Despite all Iraqi and Afghani war devastations, I am still lost on arming al-Qaida against Syrian ruler, Assad and doing the dirty works for Saudis, oil companies, lobbyists in Iran and Syria!
So true. Assad might be a monster just like Sadam was but look at Iraq today and thats not taking into account the lost of American life then and today. Unfortunately these people are ignorant animals and nothing will appeae them. Case in point Lybia!
its just another person in the "STUPID PEOPLE CLUB"....I feel bad for the innocent the died .
Crazy man, How could the world do like that after God create children grown up to be smarter??? I believe, Jesus warning them a second chance as sin.... United State had nothing to do with them... Muslim so stupin as hell to blowing up themseft as crazy! That why , U.S. gave them a policy and help them to peace with muslim... So, I know muslim to believe go to hell .... Wow, they brain-washed for ever , LOL... No good....
I am sad for my people! This civil war has gone on for too long!
Allahhahhahahahaahahahaha! LOL
OK, so now Al Quaiholics are using women as human bombs. So you gotta stop and think - when the women go to that great ho-house in the sky, do they get 72 studs, or do they just become one of the 72 slaves of some male bomber? Inquiring minds want to know (but not very seriously). I just keep having this picture of Big Al(lah), duded up in a purple suit with white trim, big wide hat and lots of gold, pimpin' up all the johns and sheilas....business be BOOMin at Big Al's!
Las Vegas odds have this caused by:
MUSLIMM RADICALS : 1:1
CHRISTIAN RADICALS 1,000:1
JEWISH RADICALS 500:1
MUSLIMS WIN, MUSLIMS SIN ! ! ! They always seem to come in first place when it comes to Killing, Rape, & Murder. Their "God" would be proud.