12 people have been reported dead after two bombs rocked a hotel in the center of Mogadishu on Sunday. Security forces fought Al-shabaab gunmen who stormed into the Sahafi hotel according to the police
The attack started at daybreak when a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle laden with explosives at the gate of the Sahafi Hotel and then gunmen on foot shot at people in the hotel, Capt. Mohamed Hussein said. There was a secondary explosion outside the hotel that is suspected to have come from car bomb parked by the building according to AP.
The Al-Qaeda linked Al Shabab claimed responsibility for the dawn attack at the Sahafi hotel, which is popular with members of parliament, government employees and businessmen.
Police exchanged fire with attackers inside the hotel for about three hours after the morning assault began. One police officer said fighters had fired on them from the rooftop.
Police said at least 12 people were killed, including the hotel owner, a lawmaker, a former military commander, a radio journalist and other civilians and ten others were reported injured.
African Union’s AMISOM force, which has been leading a campaign with Somali troops against Al Shabaab, were also at the scene, helping to clear the hotel of fighters.
