Al Shabaab Attacks Popular Hotel In Somali Capital
A huge explosion was followed by fierce gunfire targeted at the back of the Maka Al-Mukarama hotel in Mogadishu.
At least 10 people were killed and many more others injured in a suicide car explosion and gun attack at the Maka Almukara Hotel in Somali capital Mogadishu on Friday.
Police sources confirmed that among the dead is Somali ambassador to Switzerland, Yussuf Baribari.
Somali special forces and African Union troops were earlier called in to clear the hotel of the attackers.
The fighting lasted for about three and a half hours in the hotel, while security forces saved more people and killed all the attackers inside the hotel, which now is under the control of Somali Special Forces.
The hotel is popular with high level diplomats and senior government officials.
Islamic militant group Al Shabaab said that they were behind the attack.
The remains of two destroyed cars lie just outside the back gates of the building.
An Al Shabaab attack on a similar hotel in the Somali capital earlier this month led to the death of over 30 people including members of the national assembly.
See Double Deadly Attack Kills Scores in The Capital of Somalia
The terrorist group vowed to continue targeting government officials at any place in Mogadishu and elsewhere.
Al-Shabab controlled much of Mogadishu during the years 2007 to 2011, but was pushed out of Somalia’s capital and other major cities by Somali government forces and the African Union peace-keeping troops.
