Three killed in suicide bombing near abandoned cathedral in Somalia 

A suicide bombing near an abandoned Catholic Cathedral in Mogadishu, Somalia, has claimed the lives of three individuals, as confirmed by Bishop Giorgio Bertin, the former Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu Diocese. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, January 16, also left two others injured.

Bishop Bertin revealed that the explosion took place in close proximity to the cathedral, which has remained abandoned since January 9, 1991, amid the turbulent civil war in the region. The Cathedral, consecrated in 1928 and previously entrusted to Consolata missionaries and later to the Friars Minor, was destroyed during the conflict.

The bombing, situated in front of the mayor’s office in Mogadishu, reportedly caused significant damage to the Banaadir regional administration building. Al Shabaab, a militia group affiliated with al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack. The assailant, a suicide bomber, detonated explosives while being pursued by the police.

While detailed information about the bombing is limited, Agenzia Fides reported that the attackers were specifically targeting government employees. The recent incident has heightened tensions in Mogadishu, disrupting the period of relative peace the city had been experiencing after a decline in previous car bomb attacks.

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“Today’s tragic event is a reminder that security problems persist. Authorities fear a new crisis that would add another dark chapter to the history of the region,” warns Agenzia Fides in their report on the incident.