Somali neighbourhood attacked after death of extremist leader

Mortar shells have struck a Mogadishu neighbourhood a day after al Qaida-linked militants named a new leader.

Al Shabab extremists had vowed to avenge the death of the previous leader killed by a US airstrike.

Somali police officer Mohamed Abdi said the shells landed in residential areas in Hamarjajab, wounding five residents. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The al-Shabab militants had named Ahmad Umar, also known as Abu Ubaidah, as their new leader.

And they had promised to avenge the killing of their previous spiritual leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed in a US airstrike on Monday.

Somalia’s government said on Friday night that it had credible intelligence al-Shabab was planning attacks in retaliation for Godane’s death.