DP World says its thoughts are with the family of one of its employees who was shot and killed Monday in the port town of Bosaso in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland.
In a statement, the global port operator which runs the Bossaso Port, said three others were injured during the attack.
“P&O Ports, a Dubai Government Owned entity, confirms the death of an employee at Bossaso Port, Puntland today. Three other employees have been injured in this morning’s incident, and all are currently receiving medical treatment,” the company said via the Dubai Media Office Twitter account.
“The circumstances of the incident are currently being investigated by P&O ports and the Puntland authorities and with the company’s full co-operation,” the statement added. “The employee’s family have been notified and naturally our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.”
According to local police, a man armed with a pistol opened fire on the manager as he was walking near the port. One of the three casualties was a security guard who intervened.
The port manager was rushed to hospital, but died from his injuries. The attacker was shot and killed at the scene.
The al-Shabaab Islamist group’s spokesman, Abdulaziz Abu Musab, said the al-Qaeda linked fighters were responsible for the attack, according to a broadcast on Radio Andalus.
“As this is an ongoing investigation, P&O ports will not be making any further comment until the full facts surrounding the incident are known,” DP World’s statement added.
DP World’s P&O Ports won a 30-year concession in 2017 to develop and manage the multi-purpose port in Bosaso.
The concession was opposed by many residents in protests during which at least one person died. DP World has a similar concession for Berbera port in the neighbouring Somali territory of Somaliland, as well as several dozen worldwide.
Source: logisticsmiddleeast.
