WORLD
Somali militants ram car bomb into hotel, killing 28
Baku, January 26, AZERTAC
Islamist militants rammed a car bomb into the gate of a hotel in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Wednesday, jumped clear and stormed inside on Wednesday, killing 28 people, government and medical officials said, according to Reuters.
Gunfire rang out as four militants burst into the Dayah Hotel, which is popular with politicians. A second explosion shook the area shortly afterwards, injuring several journalists and other people nearby.
"Well-armed mujahideen (militants) attacked the hotel and now they are fighting inside the hotel," said an announcer on Andalus radio, which is linked to the al Shabaab jihadist group. Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security forces eventually shot dead all four militants and managed to secure the building, according to Abdifatah Omar, the Mogadishu municipality spokesman. Government websites confirmed this, quoting the security minister.
"We have confirmed 28 people died and 43 others injured in the two blasts at the hotel," Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of the Mogadishu's ambulance services, told Reuters.