MOGADISHU (Sunatimes)-The hardline Al-Shabab extremist group, has threatened to take a stern action against people suspected in espionage in Somali capital, after a mosque blast killed 50 people in mosque in Mogadishu.

Somalis suspected the blast happened as the result of Islamists’ infighting and hunting for control of land and resources in the rebel-infested horn of Africa nation.

On Tuesday, dozens of militants, who gathered in a mosque in Mogadishu’s Bakara market, have banned civilians to enter the mosque, fearing bomb attacks have declared killing of any suspected ‘spy’ without court, a practice they usually carry out to people, claiming adultery or theft.

“We are aware of the spies hiding in Mogadishu; we shall execute anyone we suspect of being spy," Sheikh Hudeyfi, a senior Alshabaab official said.

His statement comes following a bomb attack at a mosque in the southern Kismayo town that killed 3 people, two of Alshabaab.

He said foreigners were behind the blast.

Alshabaab is known to portray anyone not in favour of their politics as ‘’apostates’’ a way to make their blood shed ‘legal’.

Alshabaab militants have increasingly resorted to executing those they accuse of spying for Somali government in the last two years alongside more suicide and roadside bombs, tactics copied from Iraq that officials say are aimed at instilling fear.

The horn of Africa nation has been without central government since1991 after clan militias and warlords overthrown the dictator regime of Siad Barre that lastly leashed out to constant violence for more than 20 years.

Copyright: Sunatimes

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