Grenade attack targeted Oromo refugees in Bsasso.

Unidentified attackers hurled a hand grenade into a crowd watching a film in Bossaso port in northern Somalia late on Tuesday, killed two and wounding at least 24 people most of them are in a serious condition.

According to different media Witnesses the blast targeted a cinema in the town where Oromo refugees have been watching film.

In February 2008 Oromo refugees from Ethiopia were also targeted in Bosasso.

65 Oromo refugees from Ethiopia were killed and more than 100 others were seriously injured when two grenades were thrown at two different hotels owned by two Oromo refugees, Melaku and Jamal Arsii, in port town of Bossaso in Puntland, Somalia. The victims were watching a video game produced in Oromo Language by the time the attack took place on the 5th of February, 2008.

According to HRLHA informants in the area, the deadly attack was planned and executed jointly by security forces form Ethiopia and Puntland. A three-member mercenary group organized in Ethiopia was sent out to neighbouring countries were refugees from Ethiopia are believed to have been staying to take such actions against suspected members of opposition political organizations. Relatives and family members of the victims in particular give the following proofs to substantiate their claims:

One day prior to the attack in Bossaso, houses of Oromo refugees living in Borama and Buro towns of Puntland were searched by the joint Ethio-Puntland security agents.

30 seconds before the happening of the attack, the power was turned off from its source and the whole town remained in absolute darkness; domestic and international telephone networks were disconnected.

The town of Bossaso was fully surrounded by heavily armed security forces and all roads leading into and out of the town were blocked.

After the attack took place, the bodies of the victims were immediately loaded onto two trucks and taken to unknown places.

The vehicle of the Ministry of Interior of Puntland was identified at the place of the attack.