Somaliland police shot and injured TV journalist before detaining him

Abdirahman Keyse Tungub

LAS’ANOD, May 16, 2019 Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is shocked to learn that Somaliland police in Las’anod have shot and injured Abdirahman Keyse Tungub, a correspondent for the Hargeisa-based privately-owned independent Bulsho TV on Monday May 13, 2019, his colleagues and eyewitnesses said.

The police followed the journalist who was with friends in the downtown on Las’anod midday on Monday and violently attacked him as they tried to arrest him. The journalist and his friends attempted to challenge the capture without a warrant of arrest resulting armed police to shoot and wound journalist Abdirahman.

“One bullet was fired and hit the journalists’ leg below the ankle. He was then taken into custody with injuries,” the journalist’s colleague told Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS)

On Tuesday morning, a group of local journalists visited the Las’anod Central Police Station to see the detained colleague but they were blocked and were told that they can’t see him. His family was not allowed to visit him as well.

Until today, Abdirahman remains in custody in Las’anod Central Police Station and it is not known if he has been provided with medication for the injuries he sustained from the police gunshot.

This is the second violent arrest against journalist Abdirahman by the police in Las’anod. In May last year, police detained the journalist after his news report featured anti-Somaliland protests by the local people in Las’anod.

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Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is an independent journalists syndicate that defends the rights of journalists, provide legal aid and advocate for press and internet freedoms.