Briton Held Over 'Links To Somali Militants'

A British man has been arrested in Somalia on suspicion of having links with the Islamist militant group Al Shabaab, according to local police and African Union peacekeepers.

The suspect was detained at Mogadishu airport before he was able to travel on to the southern port city of Kismayu, which is controlled by the al Qaeda-linked group.

"A British man linked to Al Shabaab is in our hands," police spokesman Abdullahi Barise said. "He is under investigation."

Paddy Ankunda, a spokesman for the peacekeepers, said the suspect had been arrested by an intelligence official with the AU mission before being handed over to police.

The Foreign Office said it was aware of the reports and was looking into them.

In February, the Royal United Services Institute published a report that said dozens of Britons were believed to be fighting for Al Shabaab in Somalia.

Al Shabaab militants, who are battling the largely powerless Somali government and the AU forces, control much of south and central Somalia. Read More