Al-Shabaab to blame for several deadly bombings

KUALA LUMPUR: Harakat Shabaab al-Mujahidin – commonly known as Al-Shabaab – is the militant wing of the Somali Council of Islamic Courts which took over most of southern Somalia in the second half of 2006.

According to the United States’ National Counter Terrorism Centre (http://www.nctc.gov/), the Al-Shabaab is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity in 2008.

Associated extremists of Al-Shabaab are believed to be responsible for several bombings in Kenya over the past few years

The group also claimed responsibility for the twin suicide bombings in Kampala, Uganda, on July 11, 2010 that killed more than 70 people, as well as a June 2013 attack in Mogadishu on a United Nations compound, which killed 22.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for many bombings in Mogadishu and in central and northern Somalia, typically targeting Somali government officials and government allies of the Somali Federal Government.

They are said to be responsible for five suicide car bombings in October 2008, which hit targets in two cities in northern Somalia, killing at least 26 people and injuring 29 others.

Al-Shabaab leaders have previously threatened the West and vowed to launch attacks in neighbouring countries.

The group is responsible for the assassination of Somali peace activists, international aid workers, civil society activists and journalists.

Its latest attack on a popular beachfront restaurant in Mogadishu left at least 17 dead, including university students celebrating their graduation, a pregnant woman and a child.