Car bomb and gun attack target beachfront hotel in Somali capital

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A suicide car bombing has hit an upscale seaside hotel in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, killing at least 10 people, including government officials, police sources said.

Ismael Mukhtar, an official with Somalia’s ministry of information said the explosives-laden vehicle was detonated at the gate of the Elite hotel on Mogadishu beach, allowing gunmen to storm the building.

He added that two of the attackers were killed inside the hotel complex and gunfire was still heard as Somali security forces attempting to secure the complex and rescue the guests, including lawmakers.

Abdirisak Abdi, the director of the regional affairs with the information ministry was confirmed to be among those lost their lives in the major attack on Elite hotel, which is owned by MP Abdullahi Ahmed Nur.

The huge blast caused massive damage to other beachfront places of business, including restaurants next to the attacked hotel and thick black smoke engulfed the area, GO’s reporter at the scene said.

Ambulance sirens echoed across the blast scene as soldiers at a nearby checkpoint fired in the air to disperse onlookers who gathered nearby and to stop motorists trying to speed through the site amid the chaos.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the hotel attack. The militants often attack hotels, restaurants, and government complexes in the city.

The Al-Qaeda-linked group has been pushed out of the main towns it once controlled, including Mogadishu n 2011 by Somali and AU troops, but the group still controls rural areas of the south.

The latest reports from government sources indicate the security forces ended the hours-long siege at the hotel after killing all fighters, whose number have not yet verified. 

GAROWE ONLINE