Somalia: Suspected Al-Shabaab Bomb-Makers Arrested After Accidental Blast in Mogadishu

Somali police arrested several suspected al-Shabaab militants on Thursday. This followed an explosion in Mogadishu's Dayniile district. Authorities described the incident as a bomb-making operation.

The blast occurred inside a house in the Barwaaqo neighborhood. The suspects were allegedly assembling explosive devices when the materials detonated prematurely. This explosion wounded the men and attracted nearby residents' attention.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "We heard two loud explosions." He added that security forces arrived shortly after and sealed off the area.

Authorities detained the injured suspects at the scene. They also launched an investigation into the property. Neighbors had long suspected illegal activities there but it had never been searched.

The Dayniile district administration has not yet commented on this incident. The explosion occurs during a broader government offensive against al-Shabaab in urban areas.

Al-Shabaab is linked to al-Qaeda and has waged a violent insurgency for over a decade. The group frequently targets civilians and government facilities with IEDs, car bombs, and suicide attacks.

Somalia's federal government is backed by international partners in these efforts. They have increased counter-terrorism operations in Mogadishu as part of a strategy to reclaim militant-controlled areas and stabilize the country.