20 dead, 40 wounded after attack at Somali hotel, police say

MOGADISHU, Somalia — At least 20 people were killed and 40 others were injured after Islamic extremists attacked a hotel in Somalia’s capital on Friday, authorities said.

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Police said forces from al-Shabab, a terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda, attacked the Hotel Hayat in the city of Mogadishu, The Associated Press reported. Gunfire continued to come from the hotel on Saturday as police tried to subdue the last gunman in the facility, the news agency said.

Attackers detonated at least two explosive devices outside the hotel before gunmen entered the building, according to the BBC.

Dr. Mohamed Abdirahman Jama, the director of Mogadishu’s main trauma hospital, told the news agency AFP the facility was treating at least 40 people.

In a statement, a police officer told Reuters the initial attack on the hotel had been from two car bombs.

“One hit a barrier near the hotel, and then the other hit the gate of the hotel,” the officer told the news agency.

The attack is the first major terror incident in Mogadishu since Somalia’s new leader, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, took office in May, the AP reported.

The al-Shabab group has been fighting to topple the Somali government for more than a decade, Reuters reported. The group controls much of southern and central Somalia but has been able to extend its influence into areas controlled by the government, according to the BBC.

In a tweet, the U.S. Embassy in Somalia said it “strongly condemns” the attack.

“We extend condolences to the families of loved ones killed, wish a full recovery to the injured, and pledge continued support for #Somalia to hold murderers accountable and build when others destroy,” the tweet stated.

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