From Al-Shabaab Twitter feed

It has been reported that a man from Lewisham has been killed in Somalia during a battle outside Mogadishu.

The Al-Shabaab group reported on its Twitter feed that a man, believed to be Said Abdi Jaras, 34, from Deptford, was killed in an attack on January 21.

He is described by Al-Shabaab as a senior commander in the forces of the Transnational Federal Government of Somalia (TFG). The Al-Shabaab feed also displays a document that apparently shows Jaras had special access to the office of the Somali president.

Al-Shabaab has been fighting against the TFG in different factions since the conflict began in 1991 and has strong links to Al-Qaeda.

A spokesperson from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “[The Foreign and Commonwealth Office] are concerned and aware of the reports and are urgently investigating them.” The Office was unable to verify any information as yet.

The Guardian reported on Sunday night that another man from London was killed in an attack in Somalia by a US drone.

Bilal el-Berjawi, 27, from west London, was an alleged Al-Qaeda member who had been stripped of his British citizenship by the UK government.

There as been no British embassy in Somalia since the start of the civil war.

If you have any information regarding Said Abdi Jaras please get in contact by emailing news@eastlondonlines.co.uk.