MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said Friday it had arrested a five-member Al-Shabaab network planning to smuggle explosives into Mogadishu.
The agency said the suspects were caught on the outskirts of the capital while preparing to transport weapons and vehicles loaded with explosives. NISA said it seized explosives, weapons, and vehicles during the operation.
NISA identified the suspects as members of Al-Shabaab but did not release their names. The agency said they will be handed over to judicial authorities for prosecution.
The arrests follow a string of recent operations targeting the militant group. On Jan. 1, NISA announced the killing of Abdullahi Osman Mohamed, known as “Engineer Ismail,” a senior Al-Shabaab explosives commander.
Intelligence officials said Mohamed had been the mastermind behind the Oct. 14, 2017 attack at Mogadishu’s Zoobe junction that killed more than 500 people, one of Africa’s deadliest attacks.
The Dec. 10 operation also killed Abdikarim Mohamed Hirsi (Qoorleex), a regional propaganda leader in the Jubba areas, NISA said.
Security analysts said the seizure of explosive-laden vehicles shows that Al-Shabaab retains the capacity to carry out attacks in urban centers despite recent losses of senior commanders.
Mogadishu has remained largely calm since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud returned to office, though authorities said they are maintaining heightened security to prevent further attacks.