Mogadishu, Somalia (Horseed Media) – In a brazen attack on Friday night, the al-Shabaab terrorist group struck the SYL Hotel, located in close proximity to the Presidential Villa Somalia in Mogadishu.
The assault began with a powerful explosion, suspected to be a suicide bombing, that rocked the area. Following the initial blast, an unknown number of armed militants forced their way into the hotel premises.
While official casualty figures remain undisclosed, preliminary reports indicate that several high-ranking government officials were among those injured. Those wounded include the Director of Information in the Prime Minister’s Office, Farhan Mohamed Jimale, the Secretary General of the Banadir Regional Administration, Faisal Araale, and the commander of the Haramcad police force. There are also unconfirmed reports of members of the Somali parliament sustaining injuries during the attack.
As of Friday morning, more than 9 hours after the initial assault, Somali security forces were still engaged in efforts to neutralize the remaining terrorists and bring the situation under control. Gunfire could still be heard echoing through the area.
Al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group based in Somalia, has claimed responsibility for the audacious attack on the hotel, which is located in close proximity to the Presidential Palace.
Somali police have yet to release an official statement or details regarding the ongoing operation and the extent of the casualties.
The situation remains fluid, and Horseed Media will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
