News/Lawmaker News

Report: Somali insurgents fire mortars near Congressman

Congressman Donald Payne (D-N.J.) was fired upon by Somali insurgents on Monday at the Mogadishu airport, Reuters is reporting.

Reuters writes that Islamist insurgents shot mortars in Payne’s direction as he was leaving the airport.

“One mortar landed at the airport when Payne’s plane was due to fly and five others after he left and no one was hurt,” Abukar Hassan, a police officer at Mogadishu airport, told Reuters.

Three people were wounded when one of the mortars hit a neighborhood nearby, according to Reuters.

The event comes shortly after the United States Navy rescued an American cargo ship captain who was being held hostage by Somali pirates.

jeremy.jacobs@digital-stage.thehill.com