Ten people have been killed at a religious centre in central Somalia, according to police.
Police say gunmen from, al Shabaab attacked the religious centre on Monday. They killed a cleric and nine of his followers.
The militants apart from the gun attack also deployed a suicide car bomber to the area.
According to a Police official Abdirahman Abdullahi “The militants killed 10 people including the cleric, teenagers and women who lived inside the camp.”
Abdullahi also told Reuters that “Fighting between security forces and al Shabaab still goes in the centre, the toll may rise.”
Reuters also quotes Al Shabaab spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab as saying that “a car bomb rammed into the centre of the man who insulted the prophet. Our militants are now inside and fighting goes on.”
The cleric who was killed was a target for the militants after allegedly referring to himself as the Prophet.
The cleric however denied these claims. Abdirashid Hashi, the governor of Mudug region also told Reuters that “We cannot know the figure of casualties right now. Al Shabaab had threatened him many times.”
Al-shabaab continues to attack parts of Somalia and containing the group’s activities has been a challenge for the Somalia government.
Source: Africafeeds.com
