Hiiraan Online
Thursday February 18, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) – The Al-Qaeda linked Al Shabab group in Somalia denied Kenyan army claims that it killed the group’s spy chief in an airstrike in Somalia this week.
A spokesman for Kenyan army announced that Mohammed Karatey, Al Shabab intelligence chief and 10 other al-Shabab commanders were killed in an strike on 8 February.
“That claim in null and void – Mahad is alive and healthy.” said Sheikh Abdiaziz Abu Muscab, Al Shabab’s military spokesman Thursday.
.“That is a ploy aimed at misleading Kenyan public after the El-Ade massacre on their army.” He said.Al shabab claimed it’s fighters killed more than 100 soldiers during the attack on El-Ade military camp as fighters also looted military hardware, ammunition and vehicles.
The U.S. State Department has placed a $3 million bounty for information on the whereabouts of Mahad Karate last year and accused of and other six Al Shabab officials of being responsible for the killing of thousands of people in the Horn of Africa region.
Al Shabab carried out multiple attacks in Kenya after the East African nation sent troops into neighboring Somalia in 2011 after spate of suspected Al-Shabab raids and kidnappings of tourists in Kenyan soil.