Al-Shabab Clash Into A Hotel With A Vehicle Loaded With Explosives In Somalia’s Capital City

Jihadist rebels lunch an attack on a hotel in Somalia’s capital on Sunday afternoon, January 31.

According to the police, Mogadishu was hit by an explosion after a vehicle loaded with explosives crashed into the entrance gate of the Afrik hotel, near Mogadishu’s strategic K-4 junction.

The police spokesman Sadiq Adan Ali said a number of armed gunmen then quickly invaded the hotel, opening fire on staff and patrons inside.

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Government forces responded to the attack and gunfire could be heard coming from the hotel. Police rescued many people from the hotel, including its owner and an army general.

Al-Shabab, Somalia’s homegrown jihadist rebels, claimed responsibility for the attack through their Andalus radio station.

The police spokesperson said:

“We know, they have changed nothing from their usual tactic, ramming explosives into a building and following up, assaulting with rifles,”

As at the time of this report, at least seven wounded civilians could be seen although police did not immediately give casualty figures.