Somalia arrests aviation officials over plane bombing

Somali security officials have confirmed the arrest of aviation officials they believe planned the bomb attack that was intended to bring down a Daallo Airlines flight last week.

Sources close to the investigations said on Monday on the condition of anonymity, that surveillance cameras captured two men handing over a laptop to another one who boarded the plane.

They quoted the Transport Minister, Ahmed Jama, to have told journalists that investigators had established that a bomb had been planted on the Djibouti-bound airline.

The sources said the development came as speculations continued over exactly how the passenger passed the security procedures undetected.

The source disclosed that there were likely indications that the plan was executed by aviation officials at the airport.

The airport has three security screens run jointly by African Union troops, Somali security agents, and a Turkish company that runs operations at Mogadishu airport.

Meanwhile, Somali Police Commissioner, Gen. Mohamed Hassan-Hamud, said the attackers used laptop to carry out the attack inside the plane.

He said even though special experts are still examining the case, yet there were clear indications that laptop computer was used during the attack inside the plane.

Mr. Hassan-Hamud said more security officers have been deployed to the airport, noting that the officers are under firm instruction to remain vigilant at all times.

The aircraft A321 flight was approximately 15 minutes in the air when the bombing incident happened on Feb. 2, causing a hole in the fuselage.

However, pilots managed to land the aircraft back to Mogadishu Airport safely and without any further incident.

All passengers, except one, disembarked safely after aircraft landed at the airport.

Two passengers suffered minor injuries and they were taken to the hospital for treatment. (Xinhua/NAN)