Two UN consultants have been shot and killed shortly after getting off a plane in Somalia.
The two workers had just disembarked from a plane at Galkayo Airport when a man dressed in police uniform shot them from close range.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the attack, commenting:
It is with deep regret that I can confirm the murder of a British national and a colleague today at Galkayo Airport in the Puntland region of Somalia. I condemn these brutal murders in the strongest terms and offer my deep condolences to both families.
Both were working for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to help deliver a better future for Somalia. I urge the Somali authorities to urgently investigate these murders, so as to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Islamic militant group al-Shabab reportedly celebrated the attack, although no group has yet claimed responsibility.
Yury Fedotov, the Executive Director of UNODC called out for Somalian authorities to thoroughly investigate the attack, saying:
I hope the relevant authorities in Somalia will undertake every effort to ensure that their killers are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.
I would also like to offer my most profound condolences to the family, loved ones, friends and colleagues of these two individuals, who were so committed and dedicated to UNODC’s work.
