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Somaliland police arrest al Shabaab suspects including Portuguese man

July 3, 2012 · 3154710 Comments2012-07-04+03%3A13%3A11Qalinle+Hussein

Mahel Abdi Muse, Policeman in Hargeisa, Somaliland

Policeman Mahil Abdi Muse, in Hargeisa, Somaliland (Photo by Alfred Weidinger).

ERIGAVO — Security forces detained a number of suspected al Qaeda militants in a series of night raids across the capital of Somaliland’s southern state of Sool this week, official said.

Governor Mohamed M. Ali of Sool said they have arrested several men in operations which begun after the assassination of the regional deputy attorney general last week in Las Anod.

The judge was killed early last week by unknown gunmen armed with pistols and he was the second judge assassinated in the town in less than a month.

The spate of killings prompted the regional leadership to order a security clampdown.

“We did not arrest them in a single night. We carried operations over several nights. We have arrested the assailants who killed the deputy attorney general and a number of suspected al Shabaab operatives,” he told Waaheen News by telephone.

The Governor did not shed light on the numbers, names of those said to be detained but he said a foreign fighter of Portuguese origin was among them. He added that they were currently being held in Las Anod for further investigations.

“Our operations have led us to a foreign Portuguese man who was an al Shabaab member. This is a victory for our state, police and military. It’s successful operation for us,” he said.

According to local sources a similar operation was also carried out in the capital Hargeisa which led to number of arrests of suspected militants.

Hargeisa has not had any militancy threats since 2008 when al Shabaab carried out three suicide bombings targeting government buildings and a United Nations compound which left at least 20 people dead.

Al Shabaab is mainly active in the neighbouring Somalia where thousands of African troops are battling them and their other affiliated al Qaeda terror networks.

This is the first time a foreign suspect of terrorism has been detained in Somaliland.

Somalilandpress

July 3, 2012

Follow @somalilandpress

By Qalinle Hussein

Tags: Al shabaab, Las Anod, Portuguese, Somaliland news, Sool region

sweden says:

nice

3:19 am on July 4, 2012

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Saleebaan Xaaji says:

As the remnants of Al-Shabaab continue to force out of South and Central Somalia, the Somaliland authorities must make sure that they do not find refuge in the eastern part of the country. Great job by the Somaliland Police Force and the Security forces.

4:49 am on July 4, 2012

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M. Khalid says:

The Al Shabab are in a dire state. They are being surrounded from different directions by the African and TFG forces and will soon be kicked out from Somalia. There is the fear they might spill to Somali land and create some problems. Hence, the people of Somali land are required to be vigilant and inform the government of any suspicious person among them. These Al Shabab people look like Somalis, but are foreign agents who are inclined to destruct our country.

5:27 am on July 4, 2012

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Ali Dheere says:

May Allah bless the security forces who are protecting the motherland.
Love the pause of the policemen in the picture.

9:08 am on July 4, 2012

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Ismahan says:

Though im somalilander it seems though a whole somali people are in a hole and may allah help us all. somaliland has being sold to a group that called themself "somaliland development corporation" wich is a shaddy group. neverless the whole world is about to go under corporation as the one world goverment that is being working 4 years and is about 2 implement 4 reall. may allah help us all. amin somalia has lil choice in the matter.

3:54 pm on July 4, 2012

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Ismahan says:

lil= next 2 nothing. just 2 calarify

3:58 pm on July 4, 2012

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T.J says:

Well done guys! But someone tell that man to wear a helmet, to prevent head injures ore even death.

5:09 pm on July 4, 2012

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khaatumo citizen says:

this is compeletly lie coz that court judge was killed in Lasnood was a revange and was nothing to do with alshabab

10:07 pm on July 4, 2012

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- Kayse says:
  
  So you know who killed the judge? Did you send them any money including the Portuguese man :)
  
  10:35 pm on July 4, 2012
  
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  - khaatumo citizen says:
    
    it was a revange like I said, he had it coming thoe and the guy who did it left the city without scratch.
    lool me sending money, I barely afford my university tution fees.
    
    9:29 am on July 5, 2012
    
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