Islamic Militants Attack Hotel in Mogadishu, the Somali Capital
Militants from the Al-shabab group have attacked a hotel near the presidential palace in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, security sources and witnesses said.
The Islamist group has attacked the SYL hotel before, which is popular with government officials.
Media affiliated with the group said four Somali MPS were wounded. The government has not commented.
Al-shabab said earlier that fighters were in control of the hotel and were shooting workers and officers of the government.
The group is affiliated to Al-qaeda and has waged a brutal insurgency for nearly 20 years against the un-backed government in Somalia.
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Hassan Nur, who escaped by scaling a wall, said: I don’t know about the casualties but there were many people inside when the attack started.
Other witnesses reported seeing police arriving within minutes of the attack, which triggered a gun battle with militants.
The Calamada website, which is linked to al-Shabab, said at least four lawmakers and a government spokesperson had been injured in the attack.
Attacks had reduced in recent weeks amid heightened security after the government intensified its military offensive against the Islamist group.
Al-Shabab controls large parts of southern and central Somalia.
The group is affiliated to al-Qaeda and has waged a brutal insurgency for nearly 20 years against the UN-backed government in Somalia.
Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday met defence officials to plan how to reclaim lost territory, Somalia’s national news agency Sonna reported.
