About Three hundred people were arrested in an operation carried out by forces of Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency in Helliwa and Yakhshid districts in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday, spokesman said.

Spokesman of Benadir Regional Administration, Abdifitah Omar Halane said that the operation was aimed to ensure the security and fight with terrorist militant members of Al-Shabab hiding inside the capital Mogadishu and take action against them.

"The operation was carried out by NISA, National Intelligence and Security Agency in two districts, Yakhshid and Helliwa districts; it began last night and concluded this morning, the forces collected about 300 people, after separation and investigation, 26 of them are suspects for Al-Shabab militants which were led to Criminal Investigation Department for further examination”, the Spokesman said.

"This is very productive and successful operation against terrorist elements here in the capital, Halane added.
Chief of National Intelligence and Security Agency, Gen. Abdirahman Turyare and Mogadishu mayor, Yusuf Hussein paid an inspection to the two districts where the operation occurred and urged the security forces to continue their security service according to the Spokesman.

This major operation comes after several deadly terrorist attacks happen in Mogadishu on February alone including DAALO Airbus attack and three other car bomb attacks in Mogadishu.

Somali National Army backed by the African Union Peacekeeping Troops removed the Al-qaeda linked group of Al-Shabab from Mogadishu in 2011, but it still takes deadly attacks against government and AU bases in the capital.