Urgent: Al-Shabaab launches series of attacks in northern Somalia

Suspected members of Al-Shabaab on Sunday evening launched a series of attacks in Bosaso town, northern Somalia with unconfirmed number of casualties, police sources said on Monday.

Armalo district commissioner in Bari region, Mohamed Ali Shire and one guard sustained injuries while one of the guards was killed when militants attacked his residence. The two were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

Other attacks include one occurred at checkpoint manned by government forces killing one soldier and wounding a civilian. Another attack hit a checkpoint near Yasmin Plaza Hotel with unknown number of people dead and others injured.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attacks and adding that they killed four security forces in two separate attacks in Bosaso.

Al-Shabaab has been carrying out similar raids in several areas of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland operating from Golis Mountain ranges.

Puntland Defence Forces have in the recent past battled with Al- Shabaab fighters in the region who have been pushed from the southern and central parts of Somalia by the African Union backed military offensive, AMISOM. Endi