African Union AMISON peacekeeper soldiers shot and killed 12 camels in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, on Saturday night (local time), mistaking the galloping animals for an insurgent attack, reports the Daily Nation.
The news agency said the shooting occurred near Aden Adde International Airport. AMISON peacekeepers have their biggest base atHalane Training Camp, a short distance from the airport in South Mogadishu.
Al Shabaab rebels sometimes use passing civilians and vehicles to give as cover before attacks, police are reported as saying.
The camels ran past the entrance to Mogadishu's airport and it is thought that the peacekeepers thought rebels were behind the camels.
"We thought Islamists and AMISOM were fighting last night, but this morning we just saw dead camels," resident Farah Aden told Reuters. "Each camel had at least 10 bullet wounds. The whole area was covered with blood."
