Sunday July 12, 2026
Beledweyne (AX) — Quick action by local security units in Beledweyne stopped what officials say was a planned attack in the Hawo-tako neighborhood late Saturday, leaving one suspected al-Shabab operative dead and another in custody, authorities reported.
Military officials said troops engaged the two suspects during the operation; one was shot and killed, while the second was detained alive and handed over to investigators.
“Security forces in Beledweyne tonight thwarted a terrorist act that two Khawarij plotters were planning to carry out in the Hawo-tako neighborhood of the city,” a statement published by state media said.
Liban Omar Hassan, spokesman for the Hiiraan regional administration, credited tips from residents with helping security personnel intercept the plot before it could be carried out.
“We call on the residents of Beledweyne to continue cooperating with the security forces, and action will be taken against anyone who tries to cause trouble in the city,” Hassan said.
The military later displayed the body of the slain suspect alongside the detained man in public, saying the exhibition was intended to bolster vigilance and deter further al-Shabab attacks in the region.
Al-Shabab has not publicly commented on the government’s claims.
