At least 20 killed by Mogadishu car bombs

Three car bombs exploded outside a hotel in Mogadishu killing around 20 people and injuring dozens more, according to Somali security sources.

Islamic extremist rebels al-shabaab claimed responsibility for the bombs that detonated near the perimeter wall of the Sahafi Hotel, located across the street from the Somali police force’s criminal investigations department, said Capt Mohamed Hussein.

Somali forces shot dead four gunmen who tried to storm through a hole blown in the hotel’s wall but did not succeed in entering, he said.