Al-Shabaab militants attacked a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu in a hail of gunfire and explosions on Friday, with casualties reported, security sources and witnesses said.
The assault on the Hayat Hotel triggered a fierce gunfight between security forces and gunmen from the jihadist group who are still holed up inside the building, security official Abdukadir Hassan told AFP.
"A huge blast went off a few minutes before the gunmen forced their way into the hotel," Hassan said.
“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.
Witnesses said a second blast occurred outside the hotel a few minutes after the first, inflicting casualties on rescuers and members of the security forces and civilians who rushed to the scene after the first explosion.
"The area is cordoned off now and there is exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the gunmen," one witness said.
Earlier, Reuters reported that unidentified attackers have taken control of the hotel following two car bomb blasts and gunfire. It, however, claimed that there were no immediate details available on any casualties
"Two car bombs targeted Hotel Hayat. One hit a barrier near the hotel and then the other hit the gate of the hotel. We believe the fighters are inside the hotel," a police officer who gave his name as only Ahmed, told Reuters.
Two intelligence officers who did not want to be named also confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile, a translation by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors Jihadist group statements, said that the al Qaeda-linked militant has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Hayat Hotel is a popular venue with lawmakers and other government officials.
Friday's attack is the first major attack since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office in May.
Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the past. In August 2020, it said it was behind an attack on another hotel in Mogadishu in which at least 16 people were killed.
The group has been fighting to topple the Somali government for more than 10 years. It wants to establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
On Wednesday, the Pentagon said that US forces killed 13 fighters of the al-Shabaab militant group in an airstrike in Somalia.