Somaliland authorities said they have foiled what would have been a “coordinated terrorist attacks” in cities across Somaliland.
Several Ministers including Interior Minister and Police Chief held a press conference today in Hargeisa, the capital. The authorities displayed 12 command-detonated devices; five AK47 rifles, four bazookas and 540 rounds of ammunition. A white chemical powder was also displayed which could have been used for making explosive materials, according to the Police Chief.
Somaliland Police Chief Elmi Roble Fureh said “it was probably the work of Al-Shabab”.
The authorities said they have arrested 16 people mainly in Hargeisa, Buroa and Berbera, in an operation which lasted two weeks.
According to Interior Minister Mohamed Abdi Gabose, a man was arrested with most of the explosive devices in Buroa, 300KMS east of Hargeisa. Meanwhile, authorities arrested several people in the strategic port town of Berbera with rifles and Bazookas. Authorities say they believe the suspects were buying boats. The Police Chief, Gen. Fureh said they boats and weapons could have been used for terrorist attacks as well as piracy attacks in the sea.
At Berbera airport, authorities also arrested a man carrying suspected white powered chemicals. They did not give further details.