Five soldiers killed as helicopter crashes in Somalia
The Mi-24 helicopter was arriving from an airfield in the Lower Shabelle region with eight people on board at the time of the crash in the capital on Wednesday.
It originally belonged to the Ugandan Air Force but was being operated by the African Union peacekeeping mission.
Uganda's military said the helicopter was on "a routine combat escort mission", and the pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer survived the crash with serious injuries and burns.
Ahmed Moalim Hassan, director-general of the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority, told state media that investigations were under way.
Aviation officer Omar Farah, who was among the first to reach the crash site, told The Associated Press that he "saw the helicopter spinning and then it fell very fast".
Abdirahim Ali, a nearby resident, said he saw "a huge explosion and smoke everywhere".
Minor delays were reported at the Aden Adde airport, but flights and other operations have since resumed.
The African Union peacekeeping mission, known as AUSSOM, is helping Somali authorities to fight al-Shabab, a rebel group that opposes the presence of foreign troops in the Horn of Africa nation.
The mission includes troops from countries including Uganda and Kenya.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
21 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Man shot dead in rural siege made bomb threat
A man holed up in a shed for hours with a suspected homemade shotgun claimed he had a bomb, before he was shot dead by police. The seven-hour siege with police at a rural property in Daisy Hill, near the Victorian town of Maryborough, on Thursday was triggered by an earlier near-miss shooting. The 39-year-old shooter, who is believed to live nearby on Menzies Drive, allegedly fired a gun at an older man and narrowly missed him. When local officers arrived, he allegedly hid inside the shed, made threats to shoot police and indicated he had a knife and bomb or explosives. Victoria Police's Critical Incident Response Team, Special Operations Group and Dog Squad were called but unable to resolve the stand-off. The man stepped out of the shed just before 10pm and shot at police, Western Region Assistant Commissioner Mick Grainger said. In an exchange of fire, he was hit and died at the scene. Mr Grainger said it was too early to say how many shots the shooter fired at police. "A number of shots were fired in the exchange with police," he told reporters on Friday. "But who fired what, at what time, I cannot tell you. The identity of the shooter has not been confirmed. His connection with the older man and what sparked their confrontation was not revealed. No police or community members were injured in the gun fight. "It's alleged that it (the gun) was some form of homemade firearm," Mr Grainger said. "My reports last night were that it was a shotgun." The owners of the shed were not home at the time of the siege. "He was unknown to the owners of that shed ... and was in that shed for an unknown reason." Mr Grainger said. Police are still investigating whether his bomb threat was legitimate. Mr Grainger described the man's behaviour as "unusual" and said efforts to negotiate with him were fruitless. "He certainly made threats, he wasn't enamoured with the presence of police, he wanted us to leave," he said. There is no ongoing threat to the public and police say they are not looking for any other offenders. Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the fatal shooting with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is the standard procedure. The state coroner has also visited the scene. There has been a spate of police shootings in Victoria in recent months. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a male senior constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. Somali man Abdifatah Ahmed was also shot dead at Footscray in the city's inner west on April 17 after allegedly rushing at police with a knife. A man holed up in a shed for hours with a suspected homemade shotgun claimed he had a bomb, before he was shot dead by police. The seven-hour siege with police at a rural property in Daisy Hill, near the Victorian town of Maryborough, on Thursday was triggered by an earlier near-miss shooting. The 39-year-old shooter, who is believed to live nearby on Menzies Drive, allegedly fired a gun at an older man and narrowly missed him. When local officers arrived, he allegedly hid inside the shed, made threats to shoot police and indicated he had a knife and bomb or explosives. Victoria Police's Critical Incident Response Team, Special Operations Group and Dog Squad were called but unable to resolve the stand-off. The man stepped out of the shed just before 10pm and shot at police, Western Region Assistant Commissioner Mick Grainger said. In an exchange of fire, he was hit and died at the scene. Mr Grainger said it was too early to say how many shots the shooter fired at police. "A number of shots were fired in the exchange with police," he told reporters on Friday. "But who fired what, at what time, I cannot tell you. The identity of the shooter has not been confirmed. His connection with the older man and what sparked their confrontation was not revealed. No police or community members were injured in the gun fight. "It's alleged that it (the gun) was some form of homemade firearm," Mr Grainger said. "My reports last night were that it was a shotgun." The owners of the shed were not home at the time of the siege. "He was unknown to the owners of that shed ... and was in that shed for an unknown reason." Mr Grainger said. Police are still investigating whether his bomb threat was legitimate. Mr Grainger described the man's behaviour as "unusual" and said efforts to negotiate with him were fruitless. "He certainly made threats, he wasn't enamoured with the presence of police, he wanted us to leave," he said. There is no ongoing threat to the public and police say they are not looking for any other offenders. Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the fatal shooting with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is the standard procedure. The state coroner has also visited the scene. There has been a spate of police shootings in Victoria in recent months. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a male senior constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. Somali man Abdifatah Ahmed was also shot dead at Footscray in the city's inner west on April 17 after allegedly rushing at police with a knife. A man holed up in a shed for hours with a suspected homemade shotgun claimed he had a bomb, before he was shot dead by police. The seven-hour siege with police at a rural property in Daisy Hill, near the Victorian town of Maryborough, on Thursday was triggered by an earlier near-miss shooting. The 39-year-old shooter, who is believed to live nearby on Menzies Drive, allegedly fired a gun at an older man and narrowly missed him. When local officers arrived, he allegedly hid inside the shed, made threats to shoot police and indicated he had a knife and bomb or explosives. Victoria Police's Critical Incident Response Team, Special Operations Group and Dog Squad were called but unable to resolve the stand-off. The man stepped out of the shed just before 10pm and shot at police, Western Region Assistant Commissioner Mick Grainger said. In an exchange of fire, he was hit and died at the scene. Mr Grainger said it was too early to say how many shots the shooter fired at police. "A number of shots were fired in the exchange with police," he told reporters on Friday. "But who fired what, at what time, I cannot tell you. The identity of the shooter has not been confirmed. His connection with the older man and what sparked their confrontation was not revealed. No police or community members were injured in the gun fight. "It's alleged that it (the gun) was some form of homemade firearm," Mr Grainger said. "My reports last night were that it was a shotgun." The owners of the shed were not home at the time of the siege. "He was unknown to the owners of that shed ... and was in that shed for an unknown reason." Mr Grainger said. Police are still investigating whether his bomb threat was legitimate. Mr Grainger described the man's behaviour as "unusual" and said efforts to negotiate with him were fruitless. "He certainly made threats, he wasn't enamoured with the presence of police, he wanted us to leave," he said. There is no ongoing threat to the public and police say they are not looking for any other offenders. Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the fatal shooting with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is the standard procedure. The state coroner has also visited the scene. There has been a spate of police shootings in Victoria in recent months. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a male senior constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. Somali man Abdifatah Ahmed was also shot dead at Footscray in the city's inner west on April 17 after allegedly rushing at police with a knife. A man holed up in a shed for hours with a suspected homemade shotgun claimed he had a bomb, before he was shot dead by police. The seven-hour siege with police at a rural property in Daisy Hill, near the Victorian town of Maryborough, on Thursday was triggered by an earlier near-miss shooting. The 39-year-old shooter, who is believed to live nearby on Menzies Drive, allegedly fired a gun at an older man and narrowly missed him. When local officers arrived, he allegedly hid inside the shed, made threats to shoot police and indicated he had a knife and bomb or explosives. Victoria Police's Critical Incident Response Team, Special Operations Group and Dog Squad were called but unable to resolve the stand-off. The man stepped out of the shed just before 10pm and shot at police, Western Region Assistant Commissioner Mick Grainger said. In an exchange of fire, he was hit and died at the scene. Mr Grainger said it was too early to say how many shots the shooter fired at police. "A number of shots were fired in the exchange with police," he told reporters on Friday. "But who fired what, at what time, I cannot tell you. The identity of the shooter has not been confirmed. His connection with the older man and what sparked their confrontation was not revealed. No police or community members were injured in the gun fight. "It's alleged that it (the gun) was some form of homemade firearm," Mr Grainger said. "My reports last night were that it was a shotgun." The owners of the shed were not home at the time of the siege. "He was unknown to the owners of that shed ... and was in that shed for an unknown reason." Mr Grainger said. Police are still investigating whether his bomb threat was legitimate. Mr Grainger described the man's behaviour as "unusual" and said efforts to negotiate with him were fruitless. "He certainly made threats, he wasn't enamoured with the presence of police, he wanted us to leave," he said. There is no ongoing threat to the public and police say they are not looking for any other offenders. Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the fatal shooting with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is the standard procedure. The state coroner has also visited the scene. There has been a spate of police shootings in Victoria in recent months. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a male senior constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. Somali man Abdifatah Ahmed was also shot dead at Footscray in the city's inner west on April 17 after allegedly rushing at police with a knife.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Police shoot man dead after gunfire exchanged in siege
An armed man has been shot dead by police after a seven-hour siege prompted by earlier gunfire. Police were called to Menzies Drive in Daisy Hill, near the Victorian town of Maryborough, about 3pm on Thursday after reports of a gun being fired in an incident where no one was injured. They tried to speak with the man before an hours-long siege, with the Critical Incident Response Team, Special Operations Group and Dog Squad called in to assist. It is alleged the man fired shots towards police, who returned fire just before 10pm. The man, who has not been formally identified, was hit and died at the scene. Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the fatal shooting with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is the standard procedure. The state coroner has visited the scene. There has been a spate of police shootings in Victoria in recent months. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a male senior constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. The senior constable shot at the vehicle four times, hitting and killing the female driver. Somali man Abdifatah Ahmed was also shot dead at Footscray in the city's inner west on April 17 after allegedly rushing at police with a knife. Commander Tim Tully said two officers told the man to drop the weapon and shot him when he charged at police. An armed man has been shot dead by police after a seven-hour siege prompted by earlier gunfire. Police were called to Menzies Drive in Daisy Hill, near the Victorian town of Maryborough, about 3pm on Thursday after reports of a gun being fired in an incident where no one was injured. They tried to speak with the man before an hours-long siege, with the Critical Incident Response Team, Special Operations Group and Dog Squad called in to assist. It is alleged the man fired shots towards police, who returned fire just before 10pm. The man, who has not been formally identified, was hit and died at the scene. Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the fatal shooting with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is the standard procedure. The state coroner has visited the scene. There has been a spate of police shootings in Victoria in recent months. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a male senior constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. The senior constable shot at the vehicle four times, hitting and killing the female driver. Somali man Abdifatah Ahmed was also shot dead at Footscray in the city's inner west on April 17 after allegedly rushing at police with a knife. Commander Tim Tully said two officers told the man to drop the weapon and shot him when he charged at police. An armed man has been shot dead by police after a seven-hour siege prompted by earlier gunfire. Police were called to Menzies Drive in Daisy Hill, near the Victorian town of Maryborough, about 3pm on Thursday after reports of a gun being fired in an incident where no one was injured. They tried to speak with the man before an hours-long siege, with the Critical Incident Response Team, Special Operations Group and Dog Squad called in to assist. It is alleged the man fired shots towards police, who returned fire just before 10pm. The man, who has not been formally identified, was hit and died at the scene. Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the fatal shooting with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is the standard procedure. The state coroner has visited the scene. There has been a spate of police shootings in Victoria in recent months. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a male senior constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. The senior constable shot at the vehicle four times, hitting and killing the female driver. Somali man Abdifatah Ahmed was also shot dead at Footscray in the city's inner west on April 17 after allegedly rushing at police with a knife. Commander Tim Tully said two officers told the man to drop the weapon and shot him when he charged at police. An armed man has been shot dead by police after a seven-hour siege prompted by earlier gunfire. Police were called to Menzies Drive in Daisy Hill, near the Victorian town of Maryborough, about 3pm on Thursday after reports of a gun being fired in an incident where no one was injured. They tried to speak with the man before an hours-long siege, with the Critical Incident Response Team, Special Operations Group and Dog Squad called in to assist. It is alleged the man fired shots towards police, who returned fire just before 10pm. The man, who has not been formally identified, was hit and died at the scene. Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the fatal shooting with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is the standard procedure. The state coroner has visited the scene. There has been a spate of police shootings in Victoria in recent months. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a male senior constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. The senior constable shot at the vehicle four times, hitting and killing the female driver. Somali man Abdifatah Ahmed was also shot dead at Footscray in the city's inner west on April 17 after allegedly rushing at police with a knife. Commander Tim Tully said two officers told the man to drop the weapon and shot him when he charged at police.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Police shoot man dead after gunfire exchanged in siege
An armed man has been shot dead by police after a seven-hour siege prompted by earlier gunfire. Police were called to Menzies Drive in Daisy Hill, near the Victorian town of Maryborough, about 3pm on Thursday after reports of a gun being fired in an incident where no one was injured. They tried to speak with the man before an hours-long siege, with the Critical Incident Response Team, Special Operations Group and Dog Squad called in to assist. It is alleged the man fired shots towards police, who returned fire just before 10pm. The man, who has not been formally identified, was hit and died at the scene. Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the fatal shooting with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is the standard procedure. The state coroner has visited the scene. There has been a spate of police shootings in Victoria in recent months. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a male senior constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. The senior constable shot at the vehicle four times, hitting and killing the female driver. Somali man Abdifatah Ahmed was also shot dead at Footscray in the city's inner west on April 17 after allegedly rushing at police with a knife. Commander Tim Tully said two officers told the man to drop the weapon and shot him when he charged at police.
