An attack on a luxury hotel in Somalia’s capital killed twenty people, including two legislators, and stoked fears that the Al-Qaeda linked militants can access into sensitive locations in the city, officials told HOL.
Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the Central hotel attack on Friday, often frequented by government officials and politicians.
The attack started after a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives-laden car onto the gate of Central town which is close to Somalia’s presidential palace, followed by a suicide bomber who walked into the hotel where Somali politicians were staying.
The dead include Somali MP Omar Ali Nur (Furdug), the deputy Mogadishu mayor Mohamed Adan Guled (Ano-Geel) and other politicians. Several government soldiers and the hotel’s guards were killed in the attack as well.
List of those died today’s deadly attack in Mogadishu
1. Abdishakur Mire Aden
2. Mohamed Adan Guled (Caano Geel)
3. Omar Ali Nur (Omar Furdug) – MP
4. Mohamed Duale Muse (Hagi Kafee)
5. Abdifatah Khalif Badiyow
6. Mohamed Mohamud Elmi (Strapto)
Among those also died is Abdifatah Khalif Badiyow who is from Toronto, Canada . Soldiers sealed off the scene of the attack as ambulances rushed the wounded to the hospitals in the city which has seen attacks by the Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia.
Al-shabab has claimed the responsibility for the latest attack.
Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned the attack, vowing his government would continue fighting against Al-Shabab.
The bombing happened as residents of the hotel and politicians were preparing to pray at a mosque in the hotel.
The attack comes few days after Somalia’s security forces started large daily security sweep against suspected militants in the town.
Source: HOL
