Somalia: Puntland Security Agencies On High Alert for Possible Terror Attacks

A. Farole Puntalnd Somali Regional President

Garowe — Somalia's Puntland government has put the entire security sector on standby for possible terror attacks as eight days remain the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Garowe Online reports.

Speaking at a press conference held in Puntland capital of Garowe on Wednesday, Nugal Governor Abdi Hirsi Ali Qarjab told that Puntland security forces launched a massive security operation in Garowe last Tuesday to captures vehicles with tinted windows which are a source for crimes including bombings and assassinations.

"Al Shabaab wants to carry out terror attacks on or before the end of the Ramadan inside Puntland and the targets include key structures, therefore we have to increase our surveillance by keeping a vigil on those hiring houses and unknown individuals" said Governor Qarjab.

Speaking to the public, Governor Qarjab advised the locals to remain vigilant against terrorists and to cooperate with the security forces.

"We ask you [people] to increase security at every place, we deployed special security forces to Hotels and other public places to extremely tighten the security and to combat anyone who wants to harm our people, I am telling the security forces to beef up security and conduct serious stop and check operations" added the Governor.

With eight days left in Ramadan, Intelligence reports disclosed that Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab group is planning to carry out deadly bombings and assassinations across the country including Puntland which previously launched a successful operations against underground terrorist cells and Al Shabaab fighters who are hiding out in Golis mountains.

Al Shabaab recently claimed to have carried out 108 terror attacks during the holy month of Ramadan alone and Mogadishu has been a scene for random violence including car bomb attacks and military style ambushes which reached record heights this month.

Garowe Online