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| location = [[Mogadishu]], [[Somalia]]
| location = [[Mogadishu]], [[Somalia]]
| coordinates =
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| partof = [[Somali Civil War (2009–present)]]
| date = 21 February 2014
| date = 21 February 2014
| time =
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| perps =
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| susperp = [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|Al-Shabaab]]
| weapons =
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{{Campaignbox War in Somalia (2009–)}}

On 21 February 2014, [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|Al-Shabaab]] militants launched a surprise attack on the Somali presidential palace [[Villa Somalia]] in [[Mogadishu]], where the president and speaker of parliament live and have their offices. All nine of the attackers were slain during the ensuing shootout with palace guards and security, with at least five Somali security officials also killed.
On 21 February 2014, [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|Al-Shabaab]] militants launched a surprise attack on the Somali presidential palace [[Villa Somalia]] in [[Mogadishu]], where the president and speaker of parliament live and have their offices. All nine of the attackers were slain during the ensuing shootout with palace guards and security, with at least five Somali security officials also killed.


==Overview==
==Overview==
The assault was presumably targeting government officials praying at the compound mosque.<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201402240405.html allAfrica.com: Somalia: Al-Shabaab Attack On Villa Somalia an 'Act of Desperation From a Dying Animal' (Page 1 of 3)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The heavily armed fighters were traveling in three cars and were dressed in guard uniforms and red berets worn by security at the palace. They were able to talk their way through the outer perimeter of security. Once passed that, one of the cars rigged with a suicide bomb blasted through the compound's gate, thereby creating an entryway into the palace. Two of the suicide bombers were killed in the incident.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26288846 BBC News - Somali presidential palace: 'Car bomb' attack in Mogadishu<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The seven other men dismounted their cars and engaged in an intensive shoot-out with palace guards. According to a senior official reporting about the attack, all of the militants died, with some blowing up themselves while others were gunned down. Several government guards also died during the exchange.<ref>[http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/02/shabaab_suicide_assa_1.php Shabaab suicide assault team attacks Somali presidential compound - The Long War Journal<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The assault was presumably targeting government officials praying at the compound mosque.<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201402240405.html allAfrica.com: Somalia: Al-Shabaab Attack On Villa Somalia an 'Act of Desperation From a Dying Animal' (Page 1 of 3)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The heavily armed fighters were traveling in three cars and were dressed in guard uniforms and red berets worn by security at the palace. They were able to talk their way through the outer perimeter of security. Once past that, one of the cars, which was rigged with a suicide bomb, blasted through the gate of the compound, creating an entryway into the palace. Two of the suicide bombers were killed in the incident.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26288846 BBC News - Somali presidential palace: 'Car bomb' attack in Mogadishu<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The seven other men dismounted their cars and engaged in an intensive shoot-out with palace guards. According to a senior official reporting about the attack, all of the militants died, with some blowing themselves up, while others were shot. Several government guards also died during the exchange.<ref>[http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/02/shabaab_suicide_assa_1.php Shabaab suicide assault team attacks Somali presidential compound The Long War Journal<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


The Al-Shabab militants were eventually overwhelmed by Somali government reinforcements along with AMISOM troops. Government casualties were estimated at five palace guards, including deputy intelligence chief of the Somali Army Gen. Mohamed Nur Shirbow and Mohamed Abdulle, a close aide to the prime minister. Several Somali soldiers were also reportedly killed. All nine of the attackers were slain.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/world/africa/somalia.html?_r=0</ref>
The Al-Shabab militants were eventually overwhelmed by Somali government reinforcements along with AMISOM troops. Government casualties were estimated at five palace guards, including deputy intelligence chief of the Somali Army Gen. Mohamed Nur Shirbow and Mohamed Abdulle, a close aide to the prime minister. Several Somali soldiers were also killed. All nine of the attackers were slain.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/world/africa/somalia.html?_r=0|title = Militants Attack Presidential Palace in Somalia|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 21 February 2014|last1 = Ibrahim|first1 = Mohamed}}</ref>


Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was reported unharmed along with the prime minister. The Interior Ministry subsequently held a press conference in front of the palace, where the bodies of seven of the attackers were displayed.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/presidential-palace-somalia-hit-car-bomb-gun-attack-103203360.html</ref>
Somali President [[Hassan Sheikh Mohamud]] was reported unharmed along with the prime minister. The Interior Ministry subsequently held a press conference in front of the palace, where the bodies of seven of the attackers were displayed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/presidential-palace-somalia-hit-car-bomb-gun-attack-103203360.html |title = Somalia's Shebab in major suicide attack on presidential palace - Yahoo News |access-date=2015-08-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303041449/http://news.yahoo.com/presidential-palace-somalia-hit-car-bomb-gun-attack-103203360.html |archive-date=2014-03-03 }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{War in Somalia (2009–)}}


{{coord missing|Somalia}}
{{coord missing|Somalia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villa Somalia attack}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Villa Somalia attack}}
[[Category:Attacks in 2014]]
[[Category:2010s crimes in Mogadishu]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in 2014]]
[[Category:Al-Shabaab (militant group) attacks in Mogadishu]]
[[Category:2014 mass shootings in Africa]]
[[Category:February 2014 crimes in Africa]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2014]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 2014]]
[[Category:Mass murder in 2014]]
[[Category:2014 in Somalia]]
[[Category:Mass shootings in Somalia]]
[[Category:Al-Shabaab (militant group) attacks]]
[[Category:Somali Civil War (2009–present)]]
[[Category:War in Somalia (2009–present)]]
[[Category:Suicide bombings in Mogadishu]]
[[Category:History of Mogadishu]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Somalia in 2014]]
[[Category:Suicide bombing]]
[[Category:Mass murder in Mogadishu]]
[[Category:Mass shootings]]
[[Category:21st-century mass murder in Somalia]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Somalia]]
[[Category:Suicide bombings in 2014]]
[[Category:21st century in Mogadishu]]
[[Category:Car and truck bombings in 2014]]
[[Category:Suicide car and truck bombings in Somalia]]
[[Category:Attacks on government buildings and structures in Mogadishu]]
[[Category:2014 murders in Somalia]]
[[Category:2014 in politics]]

Latest revision as of 11:08, 9 May 2024

2014 Villa Somalia attack
Part of Somali Civil War (2009–present)
Location of Mogadishu in Somalia
LocationMogadishu, Somalia
Date21 February 2014
Attack type
Suicide bombing, shooting
Deaths>14

On 21 February 2014, Al-Shabaab militants launched a surprise attack on the Somali presidential palace Villa Somalia in Mogadishu, where the president and speaker of parliament live and have their offices. All nine of the attackers were slain during the ensuing shootout with palace guards and security, with at least five Somali security officials also killed.

Overview

[edit]

The assault was presumably targeting government officials praying at the compound mosque.[1] The heavily armed fighters were traveling in three cars and were dressed in guard uniforms and red berets worn by security at the palace. They were able to talk their way through the outer perimeter of security. Once past that, one of the cars, which was rigged with a suicide bomb, blasted through the gate of the compound, creating an entryway into the palace. Two of the suicide bombers were killed in the incident.[2] The seven other men dismounted their cars and engaged in an intensive shoot-out with palace guards. According to a senior official reporting about the attack, all of the militants died, with some blowing themselves up, while others were shot. Several government guards also died during the exchange.[3]

The Al-Shabab militants were eventually overwhelmed by Somali government reinforcements along with AMISOM troops. Government casualties were estimated at five palace guards, including deputy intelligence chief of the Somali Army Gen. Mohamed Nur Shirbow and Mohamed Abdulle, a close aide to the prime minister. Several Somali soldiers were also killed. All nine of the attackers were slain.[4]

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was reported unharmed along with the prime minister. The Interior Ministry subsequently held a press conference in front of the palace, where the bodies of seven of the attackers were displayed.[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ allAfrica.com: Somalia: Al-Shabaab Attack On Villa Somalia an 'Act of Desperation From a Dying Animal' (Page 1 of 3)
  2. ^ BBC News - Somali presidential palace: 'Car bomb' attack in Mogadishu
  3. ^ Shabaab suicide assault team attacks Somali presidential compound – The Long War Journal
  4. ^ Ibrahim, Mohamed (21 February 2014). "Militants Attack Presidential Palace in Somalia". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Somalia's Shebab in major suicide attack on presidential palace - Yahoo News". Archived from the original on 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2015-08-18.