Editor of popular Somali news Web site attacked in Minneapolis

The editor of a popular news Web site for young Somalis around the world was attacked last night in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Mohamoud Treek, 22, said he was on his way to visit a friend at Riverside Plaza around midnight, when he saw at least two men jump out of a car. Treek said one of the men apparently hit him in the face with his gun.

Treek said while he can't remember most of the incident, his friends said the man tried to shoot Treek -- but the gun was jammed. Treek lost consciousness and woke up at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Treek, who organized a Somali youth leadership summit at the University of Minnesota last month, said the incident was a wake-up call.

"It makes me stronger, I guess," he said. "Now I know what I'm dealing with. Now I know this is real. It happens 24-7. If it happens to me, it's going to happen to somebody else. Eventually, somebody is going to get killed."

Treek is the editor of Bartamaha.com. He sid he thinks his attackers, who appeared to be in their 20s, may have mistaken him for someone else. They didn't take any money.

The Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, which has been plagued with homicides and other violent crimes in recent years, has had a relatively quiet summer.

According to the police report, Treek was on the ground, where he was "kicked, punched and pistol-whipped" by the suspect, said Sgt. Bill Palmer, a Minneapolis police spokesman.

Police have limited descriptions of the suspects but are not releasing them at this time. The police report said four men were in the car that was involved in the attack.

Police have not established a motive for the beating.

Treek said he moved to the Twin Cities from North Carolina about six months ago.