Somalia
Radio Station bombedPosted Oct 16 2007
Somali security forces attacked the offices of Radio Shabelle in Mogadshu on September 18 while staff of the radio station were inside. The security forces opened fire at 10 am according to Committee to Protect Journalists www.cpj.org/news/2007/africa/somalia18sep07na.html and did not stop until noon. No casualties were reported.
According to CPJ and the National Union of Somali Journalists www.nusoj.org, the assault began when a bomb from unknown insurgents exploded in the Bakara Market. Security forces have claimed that they believed the culprit to be inside the Radio Shabelle building, leading them to begin the bombardment.
Local journalists however have told NUSJ they suspect security forces specifically targeted Radio Shabelle, which has been critical of the militia and government in the nine-month-long insurgency in Mogadishu. Four days earlier forces raided the station and accusing 19 staff members of throwing a grenade at a police squad.
NUSJ reported that Radio Shabelle has closed the station and will remain off the air until security has improved.