Hand grenade Attack on Radio Galkayo in Puntland Special

Mogadishu - It is not an easy task to work in Somalia where journalists are in continuous danger and are not protected from intimidation and killing.

On Tuesday October18 at 6:50 PM local time, an unknown attacker threw a grenade from the back fence of Radio station in Galkayo in the autonomous state of Puntland of Somalia. The reason for the attack and the casualties are unknown. This is not the first time, a similar attack was targeted on the same radio station on 15th January 2010, when an unfamiliar aggressor threw a bomb which damaged one of the studios and the roof of the building. “We are extremely worried,” said Mohammed Ibrahim to Digital Journal. Mr. Ibrahim, who is NUSOJ (http://www.nusoj.org.so/) Secretary General and called the Puntland government to bring the assailant to justice. Meanwhile Mohammed Ibrahim called the growing number of attacks in Somalia a serous threat to the press freedom. "These attacks were brutal acts of terrorism. Such attacks against the media only increased the sense of insecurity. We are extremely worried," said Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General. "Media houses and their journalists have every right to be protected to discharge their professional duties without fear of intimidation, bombing, killing or any other kind of interference. Safety and security of the media and their staff is endangered as a result of fulfilling their legitimate duties and they shall be sufficiently protected by the authorities",’ insisted Burhan Ahmed Dahir, NUSOJ President.