Al-Shabaab fighters attack after aircraft carrying medical professionals and soldiers lands in their territory
Al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia have attacked a United Nations helicopter that made an emergency landing in rebel-held territory, killing one passenger and abducting five others.
The minister of internal security of Galmudug state in central Somalia, Mohamed Abdi Aden Gaboobe, said the helicopter made the landing in Xindheere village on Wednesday after engine failure.
He said six foreigners and one Somali national were onboard and one person was shot dead while trying to escape. One other person was missing.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed that “there was an incident involving a UN-contracted helicopter that took place today in Galmudug”.
He said that for the safety of those onboard, he would not provide other details except to say that “response efforts are under way … we’re fully engaged on the issue and trying to resolve it”.
The nationalities of the passengers were not immediately available.
An aviation official said medical professionals and soldiers were onboard the helicopter, which had been headed to Wisil town for a medical evacuation.
