MOGADISHU — Bodyguards of Mogadishu’s deputy mayor opened fire on Somali policemen Wednesday, killing four of them and at least three civilians, police and witnesses said.
The guards opened fire on a police vehicle in southern Mogadishu, sparking a firefight with the security officials and forcing the deputy mayor, Abdifatah Ibrahim Shaweye, to flee his home in the district.
“We are still investigating what caused the incident and we are questioning several men involved in the fighting,” said Mohamed Abdulahi, Somali police officer.
At least seven people had been killed in the clash, he said.
Local resident Abukar Mohamed said: “I saw the bodies of four Somali government police near K5 intersection. There were also civilian casualties but I could not confirmed the number.”
Mogadishu has seen a rise in violence in the last three months since hardline Islamist rebels launched an offensive against the government of President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
Source: AFP
Photo: AFP
