BELEDWEYNE (SD) – Gunmen armed with pistols last night killed a Somali army officer in Beledweyne, the capital of Hiran region.

The slain officer was identified as Ahmed Hassan Biriq, a Beledweyne police officer.

The gunmen fled the scene after killing the officer, but in a security operation, two people said to be behind the assassination of Ahmed Hassan, were killed.

Beledweyne police also arrested three other people suspected to be involved in the killing of the officer, and are currently under investigations by the police.

In Beledweyne, there have been several assassinations of soldiers, military officers and peacekeepers in the past, most recently, a well-known a prominent traditional leader was killed in Hiran region.