Suicide bomber targets Somali military academy in Mogadishu

A suicide bomber linked to the militant group Al-Shabab detonated explosives outside the Jaalle Siyaad military academy — one of Somalia's main training centers for its new army recruits in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, on Wednesday morning, Somalia's Ministry of Defense said.

In an official statement, Somali security forces said the incident was a "targeted attack" by the group, adding that investigations are underway and further details will be released once verified.

"The bomber was wearing a suicide vest and was intercepted before reaching his target. He blew himself up, causing minimal casualties," said Adan Hassan, a new army recruit who witnessed the blast, in a phone interview with the Associated Press.

The explosion occurred as a training session for new recruits was underway at the academy.

According to local media, foreign military trainers were present at the facility during the incident, assisting Somali forces in their ongoing efforts to build a strong national army.

The attack has raised fresh concerns over the security of military installations in Mogadishu, particularly amid the government's push to strengthen national defense capabilities.

A similar attack happened at the same base in July 2023 that killed at least 25 soldiers and injured more than 70 others.