Eleven dead in Mogadishu hotel attack claimed by Shabaab

[Hans Mann]

Somali security forces intervene after a car bomb attack claimed by Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shabaab militants, exploded and killed at least 5 people, on the Naasa Hablood hotel in Mogadishu on June 25, 2016 (AFP Photo/Mohamed Abdiwahab)

Mogadishu (AFP) - At least 11 people were killed Saturday in an attack on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu that was swiftly claimed by Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shabaab militants.

The assault, the latest in a series by the Islamist group targeting hotels and restaurants, began when a suicide bomber detonated a car laden with explosives outside the building.

Gunmen then stormed the Naasa Hablood hotel and gunfire rang out for several hours, witnesses said, before the authorities declared the attack over.

"The special security forces have ended the siege after killing three attackers inside the hotel. Eleven civilians, two of them doctors, were killed in the attack," Abdi Kamil Shukri, a security ministry spokesman, told reporters.

Medical sources said some 20 civilians were wounded.

The attack was launched at 4:30 pm (1330 GMT) with a powerful blast followed by two other explosions and then heavy gunfire, AFP journalists and a witness said.

The Naasa Hablood hotel in southern Mogadishu is often used by politicians and members of the Somali diaspora visiting the city.

Somali security forces moved quickly to cordon off access to the neighbourhood as they raced to retake the hotel, an AFP photographer said.

A witness, Adan Ibrahim, said an unknown number of people were able to flee the hotel using a back door. Pictures from the scene showed people in blood-covered clothes running down the street.

The Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement on the Telegram smartphone app, saying that their fighters had forced their way into the hotel.

"The attack started with a heavy blast carried out by a brother who drove a car loaded with explosives. Gunmen fought their way into the hotel, and we believe that casualties were inflicted in the enemy's ranks," the Shabaab said.

- Spike in violence -

Saturday's assault came just three weeks after another attack quickly claimed the Shabaab group on the city's Ambassador hotel left 10 dead including two lawmakers when a huge car bomb ripped the front off the six-storey building.

The Shabaab lost their foothold in the capital in 2011 but continue their battle to overthrow the Somali government and launch regular attacks on military, government and civilian targets like hotels and restaurants in Mogadishu and elsewhere.

In November last year, the Islamists carried out a similar attack on the Sahafi hotel in central Mogadishu, leaving at least 12 dead.

Shabaab insurgents have also staged repeated attacks in neighbouring Kenya, including the killing of at least 67 people at Nairobi's Westgate Mall in 2013 and the massacre of 148 people at a university in Garissa in April 2015.

The Shabaab earlier this month confirmed the death in a special forces raid of a commander named Mohamed Mohamud aka Dulyadin, who was suspected of organising the Garissa University attack.

In recent months they have also claimed attacks on bases of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Eleven dead in Mogadishu hotel attack claimed by Shabaab

[Davis Knowlton]

Funny how atrocities such as this don't even get one TD comment.

Are we all just desensitized to it?

Or is it because it's Africa?

Or just another Muslim play day?

[piwanoi]

Funny how atrocities such as this don't even get one TD comment.

Are we all just desensitized to it?

Or is it because it's Africa?

Or just another Muslim play day?

Don't even get one TD comment? I suggest that you read "Muslim issues ,the good, the bad,and the ugly megathread "

[Davis Knowlton]

^Quite uninterested in your ranting, is why I won't be reading that 'megathread'.

[piwanoi]

^Quite uninterested in your ranting, is why I won't be reading that 'megathread'.

So you think its ranting by Hans to report just another Islamic atrocity like the one that's just happened in Mogadishu? all I do is give my opinion and the link to go with it ,are you suggesting that the news media organisations like CNN,BBC, and Reuters are Guilty of ranting? you stated that no TD member made any comments on Islamic terrorist events, I simply informed you were to look for them .

[Neverna]

Funny how atrocities such as this don't even get one TD comment.

Are we all just desensitized to it?

Or is it because it's Africa?

Or just another Muslim play day?

Perhaps all of the above, Davis.

And on TD, most topics that have some "Muslim" related content seem to get added to the miss-named "Megathread".

The more Piwanoi posts in this thread, the higher the risk of this thread following suit.

[piwanoi]

Somali security forces intervene after a car bomb attack claimed by Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shabaab militants, exploded and killed at least 5 people, on the Naasa Hablood hotel in Mogadishu on June 25, 2016 (AFP Photo/Mohamed Abdiwahab)

Mogadishu (AFP) - At least 11 people were killed Saturday in an attack on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu that was swiftly claimed by Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shabaab militants.

The assault, the latest in a series by the Islamist group targeting hotels and restaurants, began when a suicide bomber detonated a car laden with explosives outside the building.

Gunmen then stormed the Naasa Hablood hotel and gunfire rang out for several hours, witnesses said, before the authorities declared the attack over.

"The special security forces have ended the siege after killing three attackers inside the hotel. Eleven civilians, two of them doctors, were killed in the attack," Abdi Kamil Shukri, a security ministry spokesman, told reporters.

Medical sources said some 20 civilians were wounded.

The attack was launched at 4:30 pm (1330 GMT) with a powerful blast followed by two other explosions and then heavy gunfire, AFP journalists and a witness said.

The Naasa Hablood hotel in southern Mogadishu is often used by politicians and members of the Somali diaspora visiting the city.

Somali security forces moved quickly to cordon off access to the neighbourhood as they raced to retake the hotel, an AFP photographer said.

A witness, Adan Ibrahim, said an unknown number of people were able to flee the hotel using a back door. Pictures from the scene showed people in blood-covered clothes running down the street.

The Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement on the Telegram smartphone app, saying that their fighters had forced their way into the hotel.

"The attack started with a heavy blast carried out by a brother who drove a car loaded with explosives. Gunmen fought their way into the hotel, and we believe that casualties were inflicted in the enemy's ranks," the Shabaab said.

- Spike in violence -

Saturday's assault came just three weeks after another attack quickly claimed the Shabaab group on the city's Ambassador hotel left 10 dead including two lawmakers when a huge car bomb ripped the front off the six-storey building.

The Shabaab lost their foothold in the capital in 2011 but continue their battle to overthrow the Somali government and launch regular attacks on military, government and civilian targets like hotels and restaurants in Mogadishu and elsewhere.

In November last year, the Islamists carried out a similar attack on the Sahafi hotel in central Mogadishu, leaving at least 12 dead.

Shabaab insurgents have also staged repeated attacks in neighbouring Kenya, including the killing of at least 67 people at Nairobi's Westgate Mall in 2013 and the massacre of 148 people at a university in Garissa in April 2015.

The Shabaab earlier this month confirmed the death in a special forces raid of a commander named Mohamed Mohamud aka Dulyadin, who was suspected of organising the Garissa University attack.

In recent months they have also claimed attacks on bases of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Eleven dead in Mogadishu hotel attack claimed by Shabaab

Thanks for the link Hans, but recent Islamic atrocity's over the last 3 months or so hardly make it earth shattering news

[Davis Knowlton]

Funny how atrocities such as this don't even get one TD comment.

Are we all just desensitized to it?

Or is it because it's Africa?

Or just another Muslim play day?

Perhaps all of the above, Davis.

And on TD, most topics that have some "Muslim" related content seem to get added to the miss-named "Megathread".

The more Piwanoi posts in this thread, the higher the risk of this thread following suit.

True. With Piwi around, people skip over threads to avoid his 'opinions' - which are ALWAYS someone else's.

[piwanoi]

Funny how atrocities such as this don't even get one TD comment.

Are we all just desensitized to it?

Or is it because it's Africa?

Or just another Muslim play day?

Perhaps all of the above, Davis.

And on TD, most topics that have some "Muslim" related content seem to get added to the miss-named "Megathread".

The more Piwanoi posts in this thread, the higher the risk of this thread following suit.

True. With Piwi around, people skip over threads to avoid his 'opinions' - which are ALWAYS someone else's.

You mean like the one like you commented on in your post #2 cos all it was was a link ,with out Hans giving his opinion on it

[piwanoi]

I find that links are the best source of real News as one could hardly call The BBC, CNN and Reuters who carry the same identical story of the latest news liars now can you? , so instead you shoot the messenger and not the message .

[Cold Pizza]

Piwani is schooling Davis.

Davis you're getting dementia. And, you lazy.

Found a hobby yet.