Somalia: Massive security crackdown in Mogadishu following assassinations

Somalia’s security forces launched a major security operation in the capital Mogadishu, searching for explosives and weapons, days after government officials were assassinated by militants.
Officials from the security sector have told the media that the latest operations going around the capital is a move to tackle al-Shabaab’s threats to the stability of the capital.
‘’ We are hunting for the criminals who just want to spoil our stability,’’ said a Somali Police officer.
At least five officials – one of them working for the Ministry of Planning and Cooperation and four others from the aviation and Transportation department – were gunned down in a drive-by shooting.
The al-Qaeda-linked militant group went ahead to claim the responsibility of the killings.
Though al-Shabaab was pushed out of key towns in South and Central Somalia, the group has been able to hit high-profile targets in Mogadishu’s heavily fortified areas, including the national courts, the UN compound, the Turkish embassy, and popular gathering places.
It is not clear the number of the people arrested during the two day operations, neither the weapons nor explosives recovered.
However, Officials of the extremist group have vowed to carry more attacks in the capital and have warned government officials.
Horseed Media