A military court in Somalia has sentenced a man to death for his involvement in the country’s deadliest-ever bombing last October. Hassan Adan Isaq, 23, has been accused of being a member of al-Shabab, specifically in charge of a unit that carried out bomb attacks. At least 500 people died when a truck bomb exploded in the capital Mogadishu.
Although no group claimed to have carried out the attack, the government believes al-Shabab jihadi militants were behind it. Convictions in Somalia are rare for such attacks. Another suspect, who is believed to be on the run, was sentenced in absentia to life in prison, while a third man was also found guilty and will serve three years.
Two other suspects initially named were freed for a lack of evidence against them. The bombing prompted outrage from the Somali public at al-Shabab for its perceived role in the attack, and at the government for failing to prevent it. This pressure is being seen to be paying off following the progress in the trial of the suspects.
