Al Shabab terrorists attack a hotel in Somalia’s Mogadishu, with casualties reported, security sources and witnesses say
The Al Qaeda-linked group, which has led an insurrection against Somalia's central government for about 15 years, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The assault on the Hayat Hotel on Friday triggered a fierce gunfight between security forces and the terrorists who are still holed up inside the building, security official Abdukadir Hassan told AFP news agency. "We don't have the details so far but there are casualties, and the security forces are now engaging with the enemy who are holed up inside the building," he added.
"The area is cordoned off now and there is exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the gunmen," said one witness, Mohamed Salad.