Around eight people who were travelling in a UN helicopter have been taken by the al-Shabab armed Islamist group in Somalia after their aircraft landed, reportedly by mistake, in an area controlled by the group.
The security minister for Somalia’s Galmudug region, Mohamed Abdi Aadan, confirmed the incident to the BBC.
He said the group held by al-Shabab comprises both passengers and crew members.
Local sources said the helicopter was heading to Wisil town, near Galmudug.
The Somali government has in recent months intensified its fight against the al-Qaeda-linked group.
