Major Somali Security Crackdown after Spectacular Suicide Attacks

Somalia's security forces launched a major security operation Monday searching for explosives and weapons, a day after a spectacular suicide attack by Islamist insurgents in the city.

"There is a major security operation under way in Mogadishu," said senior police official Mohamed Hassan. "So far more than 400 people have been detained, the operations are aimed at tackling insecurity."

On Sunday, a nine-man suicide commando unit blasted its way into Mogadishu's main court complex, some blowing up their explosive vests while others sprayed gunfire in a rampage that left 29 civilians dead, while a separate bomb attack killed five more.

The al-Qaida-linked Shebab militant group claimed responsibility for the courthouse attack.

"All vehicles moving in town are subject to security screening while the passengers are being temporarily detained for questioning," Hassan added.

Security forces set up road blocks across the city.

"The soldiers are stopping all vehicles and arresting people," said Ali Ismail, a witness.

"I saw nearly 300 people who were detained and blindfolded near the industrial road. Everyone the security forces set eyes on today is getting arrested," said Yusuf Ganey, another witness.

"This is not a normal operation," he said.

The Shebab Islamists used to control most of the seaside capital until they abandoned fixed positions in August 2011. But the extremist group has since carried out a series of attacks against the U.N.-backed government.

A regional military offensive has forced many Shebab fighters to pull out of a string of key towns, but the insurgents have reverted to guerrilla tactics and have carried out several bomb attacks in Mogadishu.

The scale and audacity of this latest attack -- striking in the heart of the heavily-guarded administrative quarter of the capital -- shocked many.

"None one thought the Shebab could still strike at the heart of government but it happened and it was a really horrible attack, it is really very difficult to fight someone who does not fear the pain of death," said Muktar Isa, a resident.

The U.N. special representative to Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said he was "shocked and outraged" by the deadly attacks.

"I join the government and the people of Somalia in condemning these senseless acts of terror," Mahiga said.

He added that Somalia's progress towards stabilization "will not be overshadowed by the desperate acts of these cowardly terrorists."

The area round the courthouse remained cordoned off Monday with security forces still surrounding the area.

Shebab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamed Rage claimed only five suicide attackers died in the fighting at the court complex, and vowed there would be fresh attacks.

"This was a holy action which targeted non-believers who were in a meeting within the court complex. We will continue until Somalia is liberated from invaders," he told Agence France Presse.

As the drama inside the court complex was unfolding, five people were killed when a remote-detonated car bomb near the airport struck a convoy carrying Turkish aid.