Al-Shabaab executes four men for spying in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group on Sunday shot four men in a public execution, including a British undercover agent accused of spying Islamists, Garowe Online reports.

The extremist group said it had publicly executed Aweys Ismail Aden, 25, Elmi Warsame Omar, 22, Omar Abdullahi Abdi, 28 and Mohamud Abukar Hajji, 28 by a firing squad at an open area in Kamsuma town.

Al-Shabaab said in a statement that the men were killed after they have admitted for collaborating with the British, Djibouti and Somali intelligence agencies before an Islamist court in Lower Jubba province.

It announced that Omar has spied for the UK's intelligence and helped capture pictures from Booco in Hiran region and guided drones to carry out strikes on the rebel-held areas in southern Somalia.

The group said the men were tried by an al Shabaab judge before being tied to poles in an open field and executed by firing squad in front of hundreds of people, including women and children.

On the other hand, Al-Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Dheere spoke about why the militants are targeting upscale hotels in Mogadishu with car bombs.

"We don't attack every hotel in Mogadishu, but, specific ones, where Somali intelligence officials are staying," said the spokesman, adding that those killed by the militants were using the hotels as offices.

The militants, who are affiliated to al-Qaeda, control much territory in rural areas of Somalia and are fighting to overthrow the UN-backed government.

The militants are known for killing suspected informers, including those accused of spying for the United States and other foreign intelligence agencies.

GAROWE ONLINE