MOGADISHU – Somali Federal Government (SFG) Minister of Information Abdullahi Ilmooge Hersi accused Al Shabaab of carrying out an assassination attempt on Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salaad Director of the Somali Islamic Scholars , Garowe Online reports.Minister Abdullahi assured the public in a press statement on Wednesday that the SFG would do everything in its power to protect Somali Islamic scholars. He added that Al Shabaab, were targeting Somali religious leaders in order to push their ideology on the masses.
On Monday, Sheikh Bashir narrowly escaped an assassination attempt after a bomb was placed on his vehicle and detonated as he was driving in Taleh neighbourhood located in Hodan district in Mogadishu.
Sheikh Bashir accused Al Shabaab for the attack on his life and said that he would be steadfast in his preaching of Islam.
Pro Al Shabaab websites suggested Sheikh Bashir set up the attack on his own life, a statement strongly denied by officials in the Somali Islamic Scholars. Al Shabaab has neither denied nor confirmed the attack on Sheikh Bashir.