Al Shabaab siege of hotel lasts 30 hours
MOGADISHU: Somali forces have ended a siege at a hotel in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, an army officer said yesterday evening, adding that they had rescued 106 hostages including women and children.
At least 12 people, mostly civilians, were killed as Somalia’s elite armed forces battled al Qaedalinked militants for 30 hours after the militants blasted and shot their way into the Hayat Hotel on Friday evening (local time).
‘‘We are still investigating the explosions of many plastic bags that have been scattered around the hotel,’’ Mohamed Ali, a military officer at the scene said.
News agency Agence FrancePresse earlier reported that all the gunmen had been killed, citing a security commander.
The attack was the first such major incident since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office in May.
The al Qaedalinked al Shabaab group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Al Shabaab has been fighting to topple the Somali government for more than 10 years.
It wants to establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
The Hayat is a hotel popular with lawmakers and other government officials.
During the siege, officials said the gunmen were holding the hostages on the second floor of the building, preventing authorities from using heavy weapons.
They had also bombed out the stairs to make it harder to access certain floors.
The detonations sent huge plumes of smoke over the busy junction on Friday night (local time), and the sound of gunfire still crackled across the capital the next evening.
Explosions were heard on the first night as government forces tried to wrest control of the hotel back from the militants, witnesses said.
Large sections of the hotel were destroyed by the fighting.
The United States condemned the attack and said it was steadfast in its ‘‘support of Somali and African Unionled efforts to counter terrorism’’. — Reuters