Media reports tie suicide bombing in Somalia to Minneapolis man
Militants in Somalia say an American is one of two men who carried out suicide attacks in Mogadishu. News reports say he is a 22-year-old Minneapolis man who disappeared from Minnesota in 2008. He's believed to have left to join the terrorist rebel group al-Shabab and is wanted by the FBI.
The reports are based on word from Omar Jamal, an official with the U.N., who says friends of the man identify him on an audio recording posted on the website Somalimemo.com. The site is often used by al-Shabab to distribute messages.
U.N. officials have not identified the bomber yet. MPR reports other friends of the man say the audio recording does not sound like who Jamal says it is. MPR has previously reported that while Jamal is readily used by media sources, he is considered a controversial and divisive figure among Minnesota Somalis.
If the reports are correct, the bomber would be the third American killed while fighting in Somalia.
