The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) today condemns the murder of veteran journalist and other innocent people by coordinated double suicide bombings in Mogadishu.

Long-serving journalist Awil Dahir Salad, a TV anchor for privately Universal TV, was in this morning killed in the first blast which was caused by Minivan-riding attacker who detonated explosives in the car in busy checkpoint, near the national theatre. Salad’s driver and two bodyguards died with him on the spot. The second blast occurred some minutes after the first blast, causing several deaths of innocent civilians.

“Today is another day of sadness. We mourn the tragic death of Awil Dahir Salad in this heartless attack. This murder underlines the acute dangers that journalists and civilians are facing. We send our heartfelt condolences to Salad’s family,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

NUSOJ calls on the Federal Government to conduct a thorough and credible investigations about the allegations of the suspected suicide bombers driving police vehicles to commit this heinous crime.

Awil Dahair Salad is the third (3rd) journalist to be killed in Somalia in 2018, following the murder Abdirisak Said Osman who was stabbed to death on 18 September and Abdirisaq Qasim Iman who was killed by a policeman on 26 July 2018.