Somali Community Concerned Over Suicide Bombing

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Twin Cities Somali community believes one of its own has become a suicide bomber responsible for killing 10 in Somalia. Two men blew themselves up in an attack on Saturday on an African Union base in Mogadishu.

One of the suicide bombers left a recorded message and a terrorist group identifies him as a man who grew up in Minneapolis.

The Twin Cities Somali Community is concerned about the different kind of message the bomber left behind.

The voice on the audio recording was familiar to some but not to others.

"There is already 80 percent of verification that he is from here. Yes, it's there. We need to get that 20 percent," said Somali Community activist Abdirizak Bihi.

Bihi believes he recognizes the voice as a young man named Abdisalan Ali.

"He belonged to the same group, which were about eight of them, including my nephew Burah Hassan. They left back on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2008," said Bihi.

Bihi said this message is different from those in the past. This message was in English and used American slang to attract its audience.

"They are trying to reach out to our English-speaking American accent, our youth," Bihi said.

Mohamoud Treek is using his position on Somalia Voice Radio and as chief editor of a Somalia website to tell young people that leaving America to fight Jihad is wrong.

"Your life has to come first and you cannot kill yourself. That's the first thing a Muslim practice," said Treek.

He is also showing video of a 12-year-old who escaped al Shabab to show being a suicide bomber is not a choice but an assignment.

"Most of the kids, they are forcing to be a suicide bomber. Most of them, they are not choosing to be," Treek said.

An FBI spokesperson said the agency is aware of the situation in Somalia regarding the terrorist attack. They are waiting for DNA results of the bomber. Once he is positively identified, the FBI will move forward in their investigation.