Sunday October 25, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) announced Sunday that it had arrested a man suspected of carrying out a grenade attack on a security checkpoint in Mogadishu’s Wadajir district that wounded three civilians and a security officer.
The suspect, identified as Abdisalan Yacquub Nur, also known as Abdisamad, was arrested following an intelligence operation after investigators reviewed surveillance camera footage linked to Friday evening’s attack, the agency said in a statement.
NISA said the grenade was thrown at the checkpoint shortly after Maghrib prayers, injuring four people.
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“CCTV footage recovered from the area helped investigators identify and locate the suspect. The recordings are being used as evidence in the ongoing investigation,” the agency said.
According to NISA, preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect was involved in identifying potential security targets in Mogadishu and facilitating the delivery of explosives used in previous attacks.
The agency said it was also investigating his suspected involvement in at least 10 grenade attacks across the capital, including in Kaxda, Garasbaaley, Dayniile, Daarusalaam, Wadajir, Hodan, Kaaraan and Heliwaa districts.
Those attacks wounded 12 civilians and security personnel, according to NISA, although the agency did not specify when they occurred or provide a breakdown of the casualties.
NISA did not disclose whether the suspect had been formally charged or whether additional arrests were expected.
The allegations against him have not been independently verified.
The intelligence agency said it would continue operations targeting suspected militants and networks accused of organizing attacks against security forces and civilians in Mogadishu.
NISA frequently refers to al-Shabab militants as “Khawarij,” an Arabic term used by Somali authorities to describe extremist groups.
The arrest comes amid continuing security operations in Mogadishu aimed at preventing grenade attacks and other assaults targeting government installations and security personnel.