MOGADISH: At least one person was killed and two others injured in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Wednesday following a blast targeting the Somali security forces.
“So far we have established the death of one person and we are still investigating the circumstances of the attack,” a security officer who did not want to be named told media.
Independent sources told media the blast which hit Black Sea in Hodan district was targeting plain clothes special security personnel in the area. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the militant group al-Shabab has carried out such attacks several times in the city.
Meanwhile, the special forces, Danab killed eight al-Shabab militants including two of the group’s senior leaders during an operation in southern Somalia early Wednesday.
Ismael Mukhtar Omar, government spokesman said Danab forces killed Abdiaziz Awowe who was the group’s intelligence officer in Lower Shabelle region and Abu Khattab who was head of logistics department alongside six other militants.
“Danab forces carried out an operation on the outskirts of #Leego, especially in Sahan-yarey village in Walan-weyn district, killing leaders including Abdiaziz Awowe who was al-Shabab’s intelligence officer,” said Omar.
The Somali forces later took control of the Leego area after al-Shabab, which has been fighting to topple the internationally-backed government, pulled out from the area.
The insurgents have stepped up their assault against the government and African Union Mission in Somalia bases across the south and central parts of the Horn of Africa nation.–Agencies
