[An Nahar] Somalia's security forces launched a major security operation Monday searching for explosives and weapons, a day after a spectacular suicide kaboom by Islamist gun-hung tough guys in the city."There is a major security operation under way in Mogadishu," said senior police official Mohamed Hassan. "So far more than 400 people have been incarcerated
Into the paddy wagon wit' yez!
, the operations are aimed at tackling insecurity."
On Sunday, a nine-man suicide commando unit blasted its way into Mogadishu's main court complex, some blowing up their explosive vests while others sprayed gunfire in a rampage that left 29 civilians dead, while a separate kaboom killed five more.
The al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab Death Eater group grabbed credit for the courthouse attack.
"All vehicles moving in town are subject to security screening while the passengers are being temporarily detained for questioning," Hassan added.
Security forces set up road blocks across the city.
"The soldiers are stopping all vehicles and arresting people," said Ali Ismail, a witness.
"I saw nearly 300 people who were detained and blindfolded near the industrial road. Everyone the security forces set eyes on today is getting placed in durance vile
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," said Yusuf Ganey, another witness.
"This is not a normal operation," he said.
The Shabaab Islamists used to control most of the seaside capital until they abandoned fixed positions in August 2011. But the thug group has since carried out a series of attacks against the U.N.-backed government.
A regional military offensive has forced many Shabaab fighters to pull out of a string of key towns, but the gun-hung tough guys have reverted to guerrilla tactics and have carried out several kabooms in Mogadishu.
The scale and audacity of this latest attack -- striking in the heart of the heavily-guarded administrative quarter of the capital -- shocked many.
"None one thought the Shabaab could still strike at the heart of government but it happened and it was a really horrible attack, it is really very difficult to fight someone who does not fear the pain of death," said Muktar Isa, a resident.