Somali forces arrest 15 Al-Shabaab suspects in Puntland

Somali security forces arrested 15 suspected members of Islamist group Al-Shabaab in the northern town of Garowe on Tuesday, a police officer has said.

Abdiraham Haji Abshir, Police Commander for Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland state, told reporters the suspects were arrested in their house in a raid following intelligence reports.

"They are being questioned in connection to various terror incidents in the region. We are pursuing others who are still at large," Abshir said.

He said the security forces would launch more operations to flush Al-Shabaab members out of Garowe.

At least 70 Al-Shabaab fighters were killed and over 30 others captured in fighting between the group and Puntland state forces in March. Endit