Terrorists from the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab group launched a major attack on a strategic town near Mogadishu on Tuesday, killing at least 10 people, including civilians, before retreating.
Witnesses and officials reported heavy clashes between Shabaab militants and Somali troops in Afgoye, which lies just 30 kilometres (18 miles) northwest of the capital Mogadishu.
The main target of the assault was a police post attacked with a car packed with explosives, and Somali army posts. Heavy exchanges of fire were also heard around the town.
The Shabaab militants pulled out before troops from the African Union’s peacekeeping mission in Somalia, AMISOM, arrived.
“The terrorists have retreated back from the town and the situation is back to normal, Somali government forces are now in full control,” local police official Abdukadir Ahmed said by phone.
“We don’t have the exact number of casualties so far but we have seen the dead bodies of more than 10 people, including civilians, who were killed in the attack.”
He said the attackers also suffered casualties.
AMISOM confirmed on Twitter that a car bomb had been used to target a police post but said Somali forces had held their position, waiting for reinforcements.