Al Shabab captures UN helicopter with 6 aid workers in central Somalia

This is a breaking news story, more details to follow. A helicopter belonging to the United Nations mission in Somalia has been captured by al Shabab after accidentally landing on Wednesday afternoon in territory held by the armed group in the Galgaduud region of the country, according to multiple local reports.

At least eight workers who were on board the plane, are now being held by the al Qaeda linked armed group which has wreaked violence in the Horn of Africa for decades. Keep reading The helicopter landed in the area due to a technical glitch, according to a UN memo seen by Al Jazeera. A UN official in Mogadishu also confirmed the incident.

Other details including the nationality of those on board, remain unclear. The Somalian government is also yet to comment on the reports. More to come….