Suicide bomber kills 18 at Somalia police academy
MOGADISHU, Somalia — An Islamic extremist suicide bomber disguised as a police officer killed at least 18 people at a police academy in Somalia’s capital on Thursday, authorities said. The Somalia-based al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility.
Another 20 officers were wounded, some of them seriously, Col. Mohamud Aden said.
The bomber, with explosives strapped around his waist and torso, infiltrated Gen. Kahiye Police Academy and targeted officers rehearsing for Somalia’s Police Day celebrations scheduled for Dec. 20, Capt. Mohamed Hussein said.
The bomber walked into the academy undetected and joined a line of officers before he detonated the explosives under his sportswear, Hussein said.