Broadcast Journalist killed and Two others slightly wounded at the Tuesday's deadly suicide bombing in Mogadishu

Mogadishu, October 6, 2011, Updated October 10, 2011

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is saddened to learn the death of a broadcast journalist who was among more than 70 people killed and wounded more than 100 wounded among them two journalists slightly wounded in Tuesday's suicide truck bomber attack.

Abdiaziz Ahmed Aden, 22, who worked for Radio Markabley in Bardhere district of Gedo region in southwest Somalia, as reporter and newscaster, was killed, while Abdulkadir Mohyadin, a camera man for the Somali National Television (SNTV) and Ali Hassan known as Ali Hiiraan who works for the Universal Television received wounds to one hand each hit by a flying shrapnel, after suicide truck bomber blew himself up at the gate of a government compound which houses more than 4 government ministeries at the busy KM4 junction in Mogadishu, killing more than 70 people, according to the government and wounding more than 100, mainly students checking their exam results. The students were hopping scholarships to Turkey and Sudan.

Aden, 22, a journalist and high school graduate took a leave from the from radio director to apply for the scholarship. He worked as reporter and newscaster for the radio for eight (8) months according to director of Markabley radio, Ahmed Omar Salihi, who alerted NUSOJ by phone from Hargeysa, where he is recieving a media training.

"I was just alarmed by the journalist's father and told me that he was killed in the suicide attack and I am coming to Mogadishu soon." Ahmed Omar Salihi, Director of Markabley radio told NUSOJ by phone from Hargeysa. "He came to Mogadishu to apply for the scholarships to continue his study as he took a leave from us."

Abdulkadir Mohyadin, a cameraman for the SNTV was slightly hurt at his left ear and left hand which broke one of his fingers, according to Liibaan Abdi Ali, an official from the Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunication who spoke with NUSOJ.

"His left ear and left hand was hurt by a shrapnel, but he is not so serious." Liibaan Abdi Ali, an official from the Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunication said, "One of his fingers was broken and the doctors said that he will be not amputated and recover soon."

Mr. Mohyadin was sent to the ministry of Education early Tuesday morning to cover the scholarship exam results, during which the truck suicide bomber detonated the explosives that killed more than 70 people, according to Abdirahman Yusuf, the Editor in Chief of state-run Radio Mogadishu.

"Mr. Abdulkadir was busy filming the students and their parents checking the bulletin boards from the exam results when the truck bomb laden detonated the deadly bomb." Mr. Abdirahman Yusuf, the editor in chief of the Radio Mogadishu said, "He survived from the bomb, but was hurt by his hand, breaking one of his fingers."

While Ali Hassan was wounded byhis right hand and was seen at the scene of the bomb attack holding his right hand up, bleeding. While his body was covered with white dust resulted from the ruins.

Soon after the bomb explosions local and foreign press gathered atthe horrificscene to cover the event.

On 22 September 2011, journalist, Hassan Mohamed Ali known as Hassan Antenna, the Editor for the Voice of Peace Radio in Bosaso was shot and severely wounded by unknown gunmen at the tea shop next to the premises of the Radio Voice of Peace in Bosaso. A surgery was conducted at a private hospital in Bosaso and the journalist is now recovering.

On 14 Sept. 2011, another 20 year old female journalist Miss. Horriyo Abdulkadir Sheik Ali, working for the Radio Galkacyo, was shot with four bullets by unknown gunmen in the town Galkacyo. Journalists in Galkacyo have shown solidarity and support to Horriyo.

On September 2nd, 2011 Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, 41, a cameraman for the Malaysian National News Agency was shot to death and Aji Saregar Mazlan, A TV3 journalist was wounded at KM4 area in Mogadishu. The African Union Mission in Somalia acknowledged in a statement that four soldiers were involved in the shooting.