Security forces in the Somali capital Mogadishu ended the siege of a hotel by Islamist Shabaab militia after about 30 hours. “The attackers are dead,” a senior commander confirmed Sunday evening. At least 13 civilians were killed and dozens more injured when the attack on the hotel “Hayat” started, authorities said.
“There have been no shots fired from the building in the last hour,” the commander said. He gave no new information on the number of civilian casualties or the number of attackers killed by the Shabaab militia, but did announce a government press conference.
Flames, powerful explosions and gunfire
Popular with politicians, the hotel was badly damaged (see video above) when heavily armed security forces attacked the entrenched fighters early on the second night of the siege. Eyewitnesses watching from the roof of another building reported flames, powerful explosions and gunfire at the hotel.
The representative of the security forces then explained that the building is now under investigation for explosives that may have been deposited by the attackers. It was not clear how many people were still in the building at the end of the siege. According to the authorities, dozens of people, including children, had already been rescued.
Attack was announced by terrorist militias
The al-Shabaab militia said on a related website Friday evening that a group of its fighters had broken into the “Hayat” hotel in Mogadishu. Officials and eyewitnesses spoke to the AFP news agency about several explosions and shots and ensuing gun battles between al-Shabaab fighters and security forces.
Minutes after the initial blast, a second explosion occurred in front of the hotel, hitting mainly security forces, rescue workers and civilians who had rushed to the site of the attack. According to a police spokesperson, the first explosion came from a suicide bomber.
Bride and husband injured in attack
The head of Mogadishu’s largest emergency clinic said his facility is treating at least 40 people injured in the attack on the hotel and another attack on Saturday. According to an official, it is a grenade attack on the coastal area of Hamar Jajab. Several people were seriously injured, including a young bride and her husband. No one initially claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Shabaab militia, affiliated with the al-Qaeda terrorist network, has been fighting the Somali central government for some 15 years. In 2011, African Union forces successfully expelled jihadists from the capital Mogadishu.
Heaviest attack since the election of the new president
However, Shabaab fighters still maintain control over large rural areas and are capable of attacking civilian and military targets. The attack on the “Hayat” hotel is the deadliest attack in the Somali capital since the election of new president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in May. She was condemned by the US, Britain, Turkey and the United Nations.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
