Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked a hotel in Somalia's capital, killing at least five people. The casualties were two hotel security guards, a fighter, a government employee and a civilian, a police officer said.
Even government spokesman Ismail Mukhtar Omar spoke of five dead. The terrorist group Al-Shabaab reclaimed the act over the radio station Al-Andalus for himself, Omar confirmed this.
Located in Mogadishu near the Presidential Palace, this hotel is popular with politicians. The attackers entered the hotel through an entrance for security guards, Omar explained. They would have delivered a firefight with the security forces, then police arrived. Up to 100 people were rescued from the hotel, according to government spokesman. Late Tuesday night, some of the attackers were still in the hotel and security forces searched the floors for them, Omar said.
Al-Shabaab has been fighting for supremacy in the country on the Horn of Africa for years. The extremists control large areas in the south and center of Somalia and make repeated attacks. Every now and then they attack hotels in Mogadishu, where politicians and business people meet. The US forces are supporting the government in the fight against the Sunni fundamentalists with air strikes and training soldiers. In addition, a mission of the African Union (AU) provides support.