Gunmen kill senior regional police officer in Beledweyne

 Last night, unknown gunmen shot dead a police officer in Howlwadag neighborhood of Beledweyne in central Somalia.

The slain officer was identified as Ahmed Hassan Biriq and was shot dead near his house.

The witnesses said the security forces arrested three other people who they said were part of the plot to assassinate Ahmed Hassan Biriq.

The city saw rising killings amid elections for Lower House MPs. Abdi Hussein Olow, one of the most prominent peace activists in Beledweyne, was assassinated last month.