A hotel in Somalia’s capital city, Mogadishu, was attacked by militants who killed 9 people. The attack is claimed to have been committed by the al-Shabab.
In the attack, the culprits bombed a car outside the heavily occupied Somalia Youth League hotel after which they proceeded to get in.
The popular Peace Garden Park was also targeted by the attack. Reports from the police indicate the attack is now under control after 4 attackers were shot and killed.
The terror al-Shabab Somalia group that is linked to the al-Qaeda has for long been waging war in Somalia.
Aden while reporting for the BBC said that there was an explosion on Friday evening and this was followed by gunfire.
After the first car bomb happened, 40 minutes later there was another explosion of equal magnitude.
The al-Shabab Somalia then said that the hotel was under their “control.”
They added that they had attacked the hotel and forcefully got into it.
However, residents around the hotel said that the terror group did not manage to take over the hotel. One of the residents told BBC that the group was repelled by the hotel’s security guards.
The hotel is located in the presidential palace and is usually frequented by popular government officials.
Eyewitnesses at the Peace Garden reported that when the attack happened, many people were in it.
Halima Nur, one of the eyewitnesses, told Reuters that she, her sister and classmates were taking photos in the park at the time an abrupt car bomb hit the park’s gate.
She added that they all ran via the back gates.
Al-Shabab is notable for launching attacks in Mogadishu on Fridays. This is the time when the Somali weekend starts. Their target is to get as many victims as possible.
This operation has happened barely a day after a mortar attack on the presidential palace. The attack led to the deaths of 3 people.