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SOMALILAND: Presidential guards kill a British driver

July 17, 2010 · 1710712 Comments2010-07-18+05%3A12%3A40Mohamed+H.+Gulaid

HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — Somaliland presidential security forces opened fire and killed a stray driver after driving close to the Presidential palace on Thursday night.

In a press release, the chief of Presidential security guards Mr Sulub Abubaker said the driver ran over the security barrier and drove 100 yards close to back entrance of the palace. He added that security services tried to stop the car by shouting at the driver to stop. But the driver failed to comply with the security personnel.

Mr Abubaker said the officers attempted to ‘shoot out the tires’ of the suspected vehicle in bid to puncture his tires but one bullet hit the driver. He was carrying two passengers and one of them sustained minor injuries in the incident.

After treating the injured passenger, he was taken into custody and questioned by the security personnel, he was shortly released.

The victim, Mr Omar Abdoulrizaq Egal was taken to Hargeisa’s general hospital, where he was announced dead.

After short investigation, the police declared the incident an accident and blamed the driver for his lack of knowledge about the area. They said he was a British-Somalilander who recently arrived in the country to visit relatives.

The police released a press statement in which they explain that driver was not part of any terrorist plot. And it was tragedy that resulted from not obeying the security procedures near the presidential palace.

In 2008 Al-Shabab attacked the Presidential palace in a multiple car suicide attacks, in which more than 4o people were killed. Since the attacks the roads around the palace and other sensitive government buildings were blocked from the public and cars were detoured to different roads.

The Somaliland president, Mr. Riyale was notified immediately about the incident and he issued a written condolence letter to the family of the victim. President Riyale called the incident a tragedy and praised the security services for being vigilant.

The two passengers with the victim explained that they did not know the area well and the music inside the care was loud. They could not hear the police warnings.

Somalilandpress | July 17th, 2010
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By Mohamed H. Gulaid

Tags: Accident, Attack, Car, Somaliland

omararm says:

Every body is aware of the current situation, the security was given the green light to shot any follow who annoy their instruction, i regret to say that but that is was happen according to my security knowlege,

7:17 am on July 18, 2010

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Kayse says:

This is sad but I think the security need to either block the road completely or set up a check-point instead of chasing cars from a fair distance.

This is not good enough and the security need to compensate the family and make sure it never happens again.

Just blaming him is not good enough, someone has to call for an investigation and solve the problem. Now people who are visiting will be afraid to drive a car.

9:08 am on July 18, 2010

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- M. Ali says:
  
  The back yard of the presidents' palace has poor lighting and the security guards are either trigger happy or poorly trained. Yelling would not have been useful if the car windows were closed and other means of signalling should have been used.
  I don't think the story of running through the barrier ,as claimed by the guards, is true…
  This young man who left UK few weeks ago to acquaint himself with his homeland was deprived of his future recklessly.
  
  9:29 am on July 18, 2010
  
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salma says:

This is a very sad reality. May Allah rest Omar’s soul with peace ans mercy.
This should have never happened. They took a young life and blame him for their incompetence and fabricated fear of attacks. Riyale is an ousted leader whose days at the presidential palace are numbered. Who, in their right mind, would want to attack him now. Those bloody tip-hungry security guides should have known better then spray bullets on innocent people.
I am really upset with these careless murdering and/or intent murder of innocent people in the country. A proper inquiry should be set into this case and the cult prints should be punished accordingly. Money and words are not going to bring back this young live neither will it save the future once, if that is to be satisfied with.

5:46 am on July 18, 2010

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Faisal says:

I still don't understand why the Presidential compound is still located in Central Hargeisa in a busy commercial area. Why cant they move out and build another compound somewhere more secure where chances of this sort of thing happening is low. They should lay the foundation for creating a secure government quarter of the city where eventually most government offices would be located.

After all that building used to belong to Gen Morgan 'the butcher of Hargeisa', a place where people used to be tortured and killed.

I hope Siilanyo takes this step.

7:11 am on July 18, 2010

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anisa says:

May Allah have mercy on his soul.. ameen.. this is sad but everyone has their time and this young man's time was up.. so don't blame on anyone….. and just make dua for him and may Allah give him Jannah…..

Salaam…..

8:37 pm on July 18, 2010

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Adam says:

May Allah have mercy on soul and enter him and his family in jannah…aaamiiin.

The back entrance of the presidential building should be closed completely to all traffic. I heard the deceased was shot in the neck by the police which conflicts with their statement that they were trying to shoot out the tyres. And Allah knows best.

12:12 pm on July 19, 2010

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Maalin says:

May Allah receive his soul…Amiin
Samiir iyo iman..

2:59 pm on July 19, 2010

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M.A.Salah says:

Allayarhamma, Omar Abdoulrizaq Egal, Samiir iyo iman. Justice will prevail, Inshallah. Condolences from all Muusa Ismail families in Harrow, NW London.

10:49 pm on July 20, 2010

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egal cabdirizaq says:

my name is egal abdirizaq egal, i just have a few thing to say __firstly he was shot straight in the heart secondly the tyres were not shot at as the gaurd came to the window and shot him after my brother said the word (what).__and i dont no how Riyale is praising people after he has no sign saying no entry. (viva silayo lebax)__and for the guy we all forgive you and inshallah ALLAH (swt) will judge graciously on the day off judgement.

3:31 am on July 25, 2010

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Dajiya D. says:

InaliAllah wa ina ilayh rajiicoin

This is truly a tragedy..
ilaah Samir iyo Imaan haydin ka siiyo isagana ilaah ha u naxristo.
There should be an investigation and the people who are responsible for taking this young-man's life should be punished.

6:30 pm on August 10, 2010

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