Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Aug 20: At least eight civilians have been killed in an attack by Islamist terrorists on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu, an official said Saturday, as security forces continued to battle gunmen holed up inside.
In a hail of gunfire and bomb blasts, fighters from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab group assaulted the well-known Hayat Hotel on Friday evening. Many hours after the assault began, sporadic gunfire and loud explosions could still be heard early on Saturday.
Since Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somalia’s new president, was chosen in May following several months of political unrest, this attack has been the largest to occur in Mogadishu.
#UPDATE | At least 8 civilians killed in Mogadishu hotel attack in Somalia, reported AFP News Agency citing security official
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2022
The unstable central government of Somalia has been the target of a deadly insurgency by the Islamist group for over 15 years.
“The security forces continued to neutralise terrorists who have been cordoned inside a room in the hotel building; most of the people were rescued but at least eight civilians were confirmed dead so far,” security commander Mohamed Abdikadir told AFP.
“The security forces rescued dozens of civilians including children who were trapped in the building safely,” he added.
As the gunmen assaulted the hotel, a well-liked location frequented by government officials and regular Somalis, witnesses reported at least two big explosions.
Reporters were informed by police spokesman Abdifatah Adan Hassan late on Friday that a suicide bomber who attacked the hotel alongside other gunmen was responsible for the initial blast.
Several minutes after the initial explosion, according to witnesses, there was a second bomb that injured rescuers, security personnel, and onlookers who had rushed to the area.
