Massive security reinforcements were deployed in Puntland and Somaliland yesterday after an unprecedented wave of suicide attacks amid fears the conflict in central Somalia was spreading.
Investigations were under way to identify the perpetrators of the bombings in the two breakaway Somali regions, which drew international condemnation and came as regional leaders gathered in Nairobi in a bid to boost peace efforts in Somalia.
At least 20 people were killed in addition to the three bombers when three suicide car bombs struck Hargeysa, the capital of Somaliland.
The simultaneous attacks struck the presidential palace, the UN Development Program’s compound and Ethiopia’s diplomatic representation.
“We are still conducting investigations and many of our security forces are deployed in Hargeysa to check all moving vehicles,” police officer Ahmed Hashi told reporters.
Residents said thousands of police and soldiers were patrolling the streets and setting up checkpoints.
“We are collecting samples of the materials we found around the targeted areas and we will also try to check the DNA of the attackers,” an investigator told reporters on condition of anonymity. “I hope we will get some positive results in our investigations soon.”
The neighborhood housing the three targeted building was completely sealed off Thursday, but residents and witnesses of the attacks said the force of the blasts was huge.
“I was in my office on the other side of the palace when this huge explosion rocked the whole compound,” presidential palace employee Mohamed Isa said. “The ceiling collapsed over me and clouds of smoke filled the building.”
“The suicide bomber’s vehicle was fortunately blocked by another car and could not reach any further area but burning shrapnel and human remains were found some 100 metres away,” he said.
Security was also beefed up in Bosasso, the economic capital of the neighboring northern breakaway region of Puntland, which was hit by two near-simultaneous suicide car bombs.
Investigators continued to comb the wreckage of Wednesday’s explosions.
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