Navy SEAL Team Seizes Senior Leader Of Terror Group Responsible For Kenyan Mall Attack

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A U.S. Navy SEAL Team conducted a stealthy raid Saturday into Somalia, seizing a senior leader of the Al Shabaab terrorist group weeks after they carried out an attack on a busy Nairobi shopping mall, The New York Times reports.

The SEALs approached the target beachfront house by sea and began the raid using suppressed weapons, before a fierce hour-long firefight broke out that led to the use of helicopter air support.

"The Baraawe raid was planned a week and a half ago," said an American security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to The Times. "It was prompted by the Westgate attack," he added, referring to the mall in Nairobi that was overrun by militants two weeks ago, leaving more than 60 dead.

Al Shabaab confirmed the firefight and said one of its members had been killed, but it was unclear whether the SEALs took their target alive or dead.

Shabaab took credit for the attack on an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya last month, which resulted in nearly 70 killed and hundreds injured.

You can read the full report at The Times >