)
Forces from the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) attacked the Central Police Station of Beledweyn city in Hiran region early Sunday morning. The station came under fierce attack after TFG forces ambushed the al-Shabaab militia that were based inside.
The government troops opened fire and al-Shabaab forces resisted. The firefight lasted for 15 minutes, according to Ahmed Jama, a freelancer journalist in the city who told Somalia Report that gunshots were heard in the central district of the city.
“We heard the gunshots while we were asleep. The government troops attacked the station at about 1:30 am,” he said. Jama said the attack was seen as a similar al-Shabaab tactic, “Hit and Run."
He said the casualties are not yet known due to the media restrictions from al-Shabaab which wouldn’t allow journalists to visit the area, but promised further information would be released soon.
6 People Arrested
Jama said al-Shabaab arrested six people were arrested suspected of espionage and cooperating with the TFG forces that launched the attack last night.
The arrested men were taken from lodges and hotels from central and Kooshin neighborhoods, according to Jama.
Armed men from al-Shabaab have been spotted patrolling neighborhoods surrounding the central police station in the morning hours of Sunday.
A government official, who spoke to Somalia Report on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the attack but could not give out more details claiming it would jeopardize their next offensive plans. "Our troops launched that attack. We inflicted heavy losses to the enemy and then withdrew from the city as part of our military tactics," he explained.
Al-Shabaab officials were not available for comment.