At least 15 killed in Mogadishu suicide bombingTwo bombers blow themselves up at a restaurant in centre of Somali capital, Suicide Attack Kills Three at Popular Journalist Hangout

WARNING:  extremely graphic PICS

                                          Abdi sitaar iyo Liibaan Ali Nuur R.I.P

Suicide Attack Kills  Popular Journalist
UPDATE - press release

Abdisatar Daher Sabriye

Mogadishu — The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns in strongest terms possible the killing and wounding of journalists in a horrifying suicide attack in Mogadishu restaurant frequented by journalists.

Two suicide bombers walked into "The Village" restaurant, at the Mothers' House - a well-known building near National Theater - on Thursday evening after Maghrib prayer (just after sunset). The two suicide bombers reportedly blew themselves killing and wounding those who were sitting around them.

The journalists who were killed in this attack are Liban Ali Nur, head of News of Somali National TV, Abdisatar Daher Sabriye, Head of news of Radio Mogadishu, and Abdirahman Yasin Ali, Director of Radio Hamar (Voice of Democracy).

At least four journalists were wounded in this attack. The injured journalists are Mohamed Hussein, aka gentlemen, reporter for Somali National TV, Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Suldan of Radio Kulmiye, Abdirisaq Shine of Radio Kulmiye, and Nure Mohamed Ali of Radio kulmiye. The wounded journalists were all admitted in Madina and Daru Shifa hospitals.

"We strongly condemn this gratuitous and bloodthirsty attack on journalists. We are absolutely convinced that this was a targeted attack on journalists," said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

Al-Shabaa has immediately claimed the responsibility of this "cruel attack" which they stated that they wanted to target journalists and send them a message.

NUSOJ is outraged as the number of journalists and other media workers killed since January this year reaches 12. "2012 has sadly turned today the single deadliest year for journalists in the history of our country" declared Osman
WARNING: Video is extremely graphic

3 explosions - 2 suicide bombers - in a suspected al-shabaab attack at a restaurant in Mogadishu

Two suicide bombers walked into a restaurant in central Mogadishu and blew themselves up on Thursday killing at least 15 people, less than a week after militant bombers targeted the country's new president.

"So far we have confirmed 15 dead people including two local journalists and two policemen," said General Abdullahi Barise, police spokesman and the head of criminal investigation department.

"Two suicide bombers targeted a restaurant called the Village opposite the theatre. There are bodies and there are wounded people," said Muhammad Sheikh, a security guard at the national theatre located opposite the blast site.

The election of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as president last week was hailed by his supporters as a vote for change in a country mired in conflict for more than two decades. But the latest attacks underscore severe security challenges the political newcomer faces as African forces battle to quash a five-year insurgency waged by the Islamist rebel group, al-Shabaab.

The restaurant is owned by a well-known Somali businessman who returned to Somalia from Britain recently.