Several passengers reportedly taken by the armed group after helicopter carrying nine people lands in the Galgaduud region.
Al-Shabaab fighters display weapons as they conduct military exercises in northern Mogadishu, Somalia [File: Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP Photo]
A helicopter belonging to the United Nations mission in Somalia has been captured by al-Shabab after it landed in territory held by the armed group.
Several passengers were reportedly seized by the al-Qaeda-linked group which has wreaked violence in the Horn of Africa for years.
The helicopter landed close to Gadoon village in the Galgaduud region due to a technical glitch, an internal UN memo seen by Al Jazeera stated. A UN official in Mogadishu also confirmed the incident on Wednesday to Al Jazeera.
According to the memo, there were nine passengers on the plane including military personnel and a third-party contractor. At least six of the passengers were reportedly seized by al-Shabab.
“All UN flights have been temporarily suspended in the vicinity until further notice,” the memo read.
The aircraft encountered a defect shortly after taking off from Beledweyne city in central Somalia, Major Hassan Ali told the Reuters news agency.
“Two Somali men and several foreigners were onboard. It was also carrying medical supplies and it was supposed to transport injured soldiers from Galguduud region,” he said.
There was no immediate comment from the Somali government.
This is a developing story.
