Mortar shells hit Somalia capital after militants vow to avenge militant leaders death

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A Somali police officer says mortar shells have struck a Mogadishu neighborhood a day after the al-Qaida-linked militants named a new leader and vowed to avenge the death of the previous leader killed by a U.S. airstrike.

Mohamed Abdi said Sunday the shells landed in residential areas in Hamarjajab neighborhood, wounding five residents. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

But al-Shabab militants, while naming Ahmad Umar, also known as Abu Ubaidah, as their new leader, vowed to avenge the killing of their previous spiritual leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, killed in a U.S. airstrike on Monday.

Somalia's government said Friday night that it has credible intelligence al-Shabab is planning attacks in retaliation for Godane's death.