Mogadishu — Somali security officials say that over 730 persons have been arrested in ongoing security operations in Mogadishu, Somali officials say, Garowe Online reports.

Somali government forces accompanied by AMISOM peacekeepers conducted security sweep of Mogadishu's Wadajir district, said Col. Khalif Ahmed Ereg, a senior official with Somalia's intelligence agency.

"We arrested 730 persons during today's operations and about 40 of them have confirmed links to Al Shabaab terrorist group," Col. Ereg told Somali journalists in Mogadishu on Saturday.

Col. Ereg indicated that Somali government forces have seized weapons from some of the detained persons, most of whom are young men.

He noted that the persons were taken to an open camp, interviewed and most were released. However, Col. Ereg said the 40 suspected persons are under continuing investigation for links to Al Shabaab terrorist group.

Last week, Somali government forces conducting a security sweep in Mogadishu's Wadajir district detained over 1,700 persons.