Al-Shabab militants kill at least 14 in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu during siege on hotel
Security forces managed to take control several hours after the attack began with a suicide bomber detonating explosives on the street outside.
At least 14 people were killed when militant group al-Shabab launched an attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, on Saturday. One of the attackers was believed to have detonated a suicide belt outside the busy Naso-Hablod hotel, before the militants entered the building and began shooting at random. According to the BBC, the security forces later managed to take control of the situation. Among those killed were civilians, security guards and the attackers themselves.
A security official told Al Jazeera that at least three or four militants were involved. An ambulance driver claimed he evacuated 11 people to hospitals nearby.
The al-Shabab group has carried out several major attacks across Somalia in an effort to topple the government, which is backed by major Western nations. Several of their attacks have taken place during the holy month of Ramadan, which Muslims in the country are currently observing.
