Hiiraan Online
Sunday April 7, 2019
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali police have found a cache of weapons in the outskirt of Mogadishu following a search by security forces, an official confirmed.
According to deputy Somali police chief, Zakiya Hussein Ahmed, the law enforcement agencies recovered explosives following a search at an underground site in Elasha Biyaha on Saturday evening.
The weapons stockpile recovered included explosives, suicide belts, remote detonators, grenades, cartridges, ammunition, wires and other substances used for creating IEDs.
She said forces were acting on credible tips from locals in the neighbourhood.
The official pointed out that they suspect the arsenal belonged to Al-Shabaab militants.
In separate security sweep just 30km south of Mogadishu, security forces arrested 35 suspected Al-Shabaab fighters in Afgoye town and another 14 others in Sabiid town in Lower Shabelle region.
Sabiid was recaptured from Al-Shabaab militants last week after Somali military backed by continental forces raided the locality.
The Somali government has promised to intensify security operations against Al-Shabaab militants after a violent uptick in attacks in Mogadishu by the Al-Qaeda linked terror group.