Terrorism

Somalia plane blast probe points to suicide bomber in wheelchair: WSJ

A view of an airliner after an explosion aboard Daallo Airlines Airbus flying to Djibouti, on February 2, 2016.
Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

New investigations suggest a passenger in a wheelchair was responsible for the Daallo Airlines plane explosion in Somalia's capital earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing a Western diplomat.

Investigators believe the man used the wheelchair to evade security checks at Mogadishu's international airport.

The alleged bomber then detonated the bomb soon after takeoff, which blew a hole in the Airbus A321's fuselage but did not down it, the WSJ reported.

The newspaper said the force of the blast ejected the alleged bomber from the cabin. His body was recovered near the town of Balad, about 20 miles from Mogadishu.

U.S. representatives are assisting in the probe, and both U.S. officials and the plane's pilot said Wednesday they believe a bomb exploded aboard the flight.

For the full report, click here.

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