At least seven killed in Mogadishu mortar exchange

Islamist insurgents fired several rounds of mortar shells at Mogadishu’s police headquarters, leaving one officer dead and three wounded.

At least seven people, mainly civilians, were killed and five others injured in the Somali capital on Sunday as Islamist insurgents and pro-government forces exchanged mortar fire, officials said.

Islamist insurgents fired several rounds of mortar shells at southern Mogadishu’s police headquarters, leaving one police officer dead and three others wounded.

Mortar shells fired in retaliation from government positions killed six civilians, officials and witnesses said.

"The insurgents fired rounds of mortar shells at the police headquarters and one of the shells hit in front of the gate killing an officer.Three others were also wounded," Nuradin Abdulahi, a Somali police officer told AFP.

Abdurahman Wardhigley, a resident of southern Mogadishu’s Holadag neighborhood said three civilians died near his house after a mortar struck their home.

"The mortar shells were coming from the positions of the government," he said.

Several other witnesses said a further three civilians died in the Bakara market area after mortar shells hit stalls.