MOGADISHU, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Somali government said on Thursday evening it had arrested 19 Al-Shabaab suspects in the southern Lower Shabelle region.
The suspects, including a bomb explosives expert, were arrested in Afgooye area, about 30 km south west of Mogadishu, Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman said.
Osman told journalists following a cabinet meeting the suspects were nabbed in a security operation in the past week.
"Our security forces conducted an operation in Afgooye area and arrested key Al-Shabaab fighters in charge of various sections," The minster said.
"We strongly believe they are Al-Shabaab. They are currently being interrogated and will be arraigned in court soon," the minister said.
The arrest of the 19 came a day after the government released names and photographs of six people it said were behind the October 14 terror attack in Mogadishu which killed about more than 350 people.
Somali and African Union forces launched operations last week in Lower Shabelle region as the U.S. military ramped up air strikes in various parts of the country targeting Al-Shabaab and ISIS.
