Somalia: Al Shabaab says fire mortars at presidential palace

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Al Qaeda-linked militant group Al Shabaab claimed it carried out a mortar attack on the presidential palace in the capital Mogadishu on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.

"We attacked the palace with 8 mortar shells today. Several landed inside the palace," Sheikh Abdulaziz Abu Musab, Al Shabaab's military operation spokesman told the group's radio station, Andulus.

Reports of casualties and damage were not immediately available, according to the security officials.

Abdiwahid Mohamed, a witness, told GO over the phone that at least three mortars aimed at the heavily-fortified presidential compound struck a residential area, and caused no casualties.

The mortar shells did not explode, he said. The area was immediately cordoned off by Somali government forces protecting the Palace. It's yet unclear where the mortars have been fired from.

Government officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the mortar shelling around Villa Somalia which houses Somali president, prime minister and speaker of the parliament.

On 14th December, a suicide bomber disguised as a policeman blew himself up inside General Kahiye police training camp in Mogadishu and killed at least 18 officers. Al Shabaab claimed credit for the attack.

The group has previously controlled parts of Mogadishu for more than 5 years but was pushed out of capital in 2011 and other major cities by Somali National Army and African Union forces.

GAROWE ONLINE