38 KILLED IN ALSHABAAB ATTACK IN SOMALIA'S SEMI- AUTONOMOUS PUNTLAND

The death toll from al Shabaab attack on a town in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on Thursday has risen to 38 from 20 reported earlier, a military officer said.

“Now we confirm 38 people, mostly soldiers, died and 18 others wounded. I believe some were captured alive and taken away,” Major Mohamed Abdi, a Puntland military officer, told Reuters.

“Numerous, heavily armed al Shabaab fighters attacked us from every direction and after hours of fierce battle I was among those who ran for their lives.”