​Somalia: ISIL claims responsibility for attack on Village Hotel in Bosaso

BOSASO, Puntland- ISIL has claimed responsibility for the attack on Village Hotel in Bosaso, the commercial hub of Puntland region, that killed 4 pro-government forces on election day, Garowe Online reports.

The Islamic State (ISIS) group released on Wednesday a statement, claiming responsibility for the hotel raid, which left six people, including 2 attackers dead.

The terror group's statement said ISIS fighters stormed the Village Hotel in Bosaso in the early hours on Wednesday frequented with foreigners and Puntland state officials, and killed at least four security guards.

During the attack, two attackers were shot dead by the security guards of the hotel as they attempted to fight their way into the building, while other four gunmen involved in the raid, are reported to have escaped.

This is the first attack by pro-ISIS militants in a major city in Somalia's northeastern semi-autonomous state of Puntland, since it briefly captured port town of Qandala last October before it pushed back by Puntland forces.

The Village Hotel raid signals the Islamic State's desire to make inroads in a region dominated by rival, Al Qaida- affiliated Al Shabaab militants who carried out several assassinations in Bosaso last year.

GAROWEONLINE