At least 18 people were killed and dozens injured when gunmen from the extremist group al-Shabaab launched twin deadly attacks on hotels in Mogadishu, Police officers have confirmed.
The gunmen, who were armed with AK-47 rifles and explosive devices, entered Wehelie and Siyad hotels as people were sitting down to break their fast on Friday evening.
Al-Qaeda-linked militant group quickly claimed responsibility for the attack.
Somali government officials have said that 12 gunmen launched attacks on both hotels and were killed in a firefight with security forces. The siege at the hotels lasted more than five hours. More than 50 people were rescued including ministers and members of the Federal Parliament, according to officials.
The hotels are popular with government officials and were crowded with people getting ready to break their fast at the time of the attack.
Al-Shabaab have carried out numerous similar attack in the Somali capital, but the choice of a hotel as a target reflected an effort to show they can still penetrate heavily secured areas despite numerous AMISOM and Somali offensives against them in recent years.
Horseed Media
Somalia: Death in Mogadishu hotel attacks rises to 18
Published: July 11, 2015
