The clash occurred after armed gangs allegedly attacked police officers trying to arrest a businessman who is suspected to have links with Al-Shabaab militants.

Reports say police failed to arrest the man they were hunting for due to the incident.

Puntland’s area police boss Col. Jamaa Mohamed Ahmed confirmed the incident to Sunatimes, saying that the officers were trying to apprehend a militant sympathizer.

He said two suspected militants arrested during an operation in the city last week informed them that the man on the hunt has been working with them.

Tension still prevails in the area and there is heightened fear that police might again try to arrest the suspect on the run and eventually end up in clashing with the gangs again.