MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia security officers nabbed up to 700 people on suspicion of Al Shabaab members in an operation that took place Somali capital Mogadishu.
The security crackdown was carried out by police soldiers and security forces in Wabari district and its environs, a security officer, who asked to be anonymous, said.
He says the joint forces raided several houses in neighborhoods of Wabari to flush out Al Shabaab suspects in Mogadishu.
The allied troops searched houses suspected to be hiding Al-Shabaab sympathizers, after a tip-off from members of the public, he said.
The joint operation was reportedly meant to beef up the security in the capital of Mogadishu which has been experiencing suicide bomb attacks and assassinations for the past weeks.
“It was well-orchestrated swoop and came after a tip-off from members of the public”, he said.
He added that nearly 700 people, who were detained in the crackdown, have been taken into police station for further investigations.
The operation saw the arrest of a man, who is suspected to have carried out several assassinations in Somali capital Mogadishu.
Faisa Hassan, a witness says Somali police and troops with heavily combed several houses in search of remnants of Al Shabaab assassins.
“The allied soldiers conducted a house-to-house search and arrested several people from our district,” she said.
Somali forces often carry out security operations to prevent militants from launching attacks.
But, Al-Qaida affiliated group Al-Shabaab which is battling federal government is still able to wage attacks in the country and elsewhere of Somalia.
With Reporting by Abdirisak Mohamud Tuuryare from Mogadishu, Somalia
