MINNEAPOLIS – World Cup fever turned to carnage in Uganda when apparent suicide-bombers attacked two outdoor venues showing the world cup final. A militia in Somalia, with links to Al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the bombings.

In the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, nicknamed little Mogadishu, they waited to hear the names of the suicide bombers and wonder if they’ll be from here.

Abdi Bbihi should know. His 15-year-old nephew, Burhan hissing, was one of 24 Minnesota boys and men Al Shabab recruited to fight in Somalia. One of them, Shirwa Ahmed, became a suicide bomber.

In fact, U.S. intelligence has long feared the possibility that one of the missing American Somalis could return, to carry out a terrorist attack on American soil. The attacks in Uganda show Al Shabab has extended its reach beyond Somalia.
It is a fear shared by Mohammed Saleban, a Somali presidential candidate, campaigning this week in Minnesota. In many ways his real opponent is Al Shabab. Online, there are slickly produced videos, designed to appeal to jihadist-wannabes, mainly alienated westerners.

Bihi’s nephew was killed in Somalia, perhaps becoming an unwilling recruit. The Uganda attacks make them wonder how many more young American Somali’s will die, and where.

74 people were killed in Uganda, including at least one American. A 14-year-old from Pennsylvania is one of the survivors.

Statement from the Somali Justice Advocacy Center

The Somali Justice Advocacy Center is deeply saddened and shocked by the suicide bombing and the resulting loss of innocent lives in Kampala, Uganda. We deplore these cowardly attacks, and we send our deep condolences to the people of Uganda and the loved ones of those who has been killed or injured. Our US citizens and other nationals were also hurt in those attacks. We reach out and give our deep condolences to their families and the lived ones.

We want to also express our worries and concern about possible effects and backlash such horrific and evil deed could have on the nearly 2 million people of Somali origin who sought refuge among kind and giving peoples of the world.

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FOX MINNESOTA

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