Al-Shabaab Burns 12 Homes, Kills Civilian
The conflict between the residents of Garas-Bintow village, near Aliyaale district of Middle Shabelle, and al-Shabaab militants is quickly deteriorating after al-Shabaab burned more than ten houses in the village and killed one of its residents in a Mogadishu hospital, according to locals who spoke to Somalia Report.
“Yesterday they burned 12 houses in the village and detained seven people,” said one the residents on condition of anonymity. “Most of the youths fled from the village for fear of al-Shabaab. Everyday they come here and look inside our houses.”
The insurgents also went to Keysaney Hospital in Mogadishu on Friday and killed one of the Garas-Bintow residents, Hassan Mohamud Hassan Giirey, who was injured during a clash earlier in the week.
“They killed him mercilessly by removing all the life support equipment. They watched him until he died,” said Ahmed Omari, a close relative of Hassan. “After he died, one of al-shabaab militia spoke to the people in the hospital and demanded that nobody touch or go near the body."
Al-Shabaab accused Hassan of conspiring to kill Sheikh Ali Hoosh, former al-Shabaab chairman of Aliyaale district. After the the chairman tried to stop a funeral on Tuesday, residents of Garas-Bintow village stabbed him to death.
Reports from Keysaney Hospital says that the body is still there and has not yet been buried.
