Somali security forces arrest 14 Al-Shabaab suspects in Mogadishu

Somali security forces on Sunday evening arrested 14 suspects during two different operations conducted in Wadajir and Hodan districts in Benadir region of Mogadishu, an official said Monday.

Ministry of Internal Security spokesman Abdikamil Mo'allim Shukri said the operations which were conducted by National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) were aimed at securing the region as well as flush out criminals hiding inside the town.

"NISA officers carried out operations in Wadajir and Hodan districts on Sunday evening and arrested 14 Al-Shabaab suspects, two of them were behind the latest terrorist incidents in the capital Mogadishu," Shukri said.

"The security forces arrested the suspects with motor bike in which they use for committing assassinations. We will investigate them," Shukri added.

He called on Mogadishu residents to provide information that could lead to possible arrest of more terror suspects to enable security officers to thwart future attacks in the restive capital.

Somali National Army backed by the African Union Peacekeeping Forces removed Al-Shabaab from the capital Mogadishu in 2011, but the group often carries out deadly attacks against government and AU headquarters including social gatherings like hotels and restaurants in the town. Endit