News
Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for attack on Somali hotel
Estimated 10 killed more than 12 wounded
Security forces patrol near the Hayat Hotel (Source: Photo AFP)
Security officers patrol near the Hyat Hotel
(Source: Photo Yahoo News)
(Source: Photo Yahoo News)
August 20, 2022 2:02 AM
UPDATE August 20, 2022 5:21 AM
SOMALI HOTEL ATTACKED BY MILITANTS. AL-SHABAAB CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
At least 10 Killed in Attack at Hotel in Somali Capital
At least 10 people have been killed and more than a dozen were wounded in an attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital.
Witnesses told VOA's Somali Service that they heard two or three blasts near the Hayat Hotel at the KM4 junction Friday evening.
A police officer told Reuters news service that one car bomb hit near the hotel, and another hit the hotel's gate.
Gunfire could still be heard early Saturday as police tried to flush the attackers out of the hotel, The Associated Press reported.
Islamist militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the blasts. A statement on the group's website said, "Our fighters seized the hotel and are fighting now inside. We are targeting government officials who are in the hotel."
The group, which has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for about 15 years, often targets cafes and hotels like the Hayat in Mogadishu that are patronized by political and security officials.
Meanwhile, security sources told VOA four people were killed and approximately 10 people were wounded in a mortar shell attack elsewhere in the capital.
Witnesses told VOA's Somali Service that they heard two or three blasts near the Hayat Hotel at the KM4 junction Friday evening.
A police officer told Reuters news service that one car bomb hit near the hotel, and another hit the hotel's gate.
Gunfire could still be heard early Saturday as police tried to flush the attackers out of the hotel, The Associated Press reported.
Islamist militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the blasts. A statement on the group's website said, "Our fighters seized the hotel and are fighting now inside. We are targeting government officials who are in the hotel."
The group, which has been waging an insurgency in Somalia for about 15 years, often targets cafes and hotels like the Hayat in Mogadishu that are patronized by political and security officials.
Meanwhile, security sources told VOA four people were killed and approximately 10 people were wounded in a mortar shell attack elsewhere in the capital.
An affiliate of al-Qaeda, al-Shabab has engaged in a long-running conflict with the federal government.
The group controls much of southern and central Somalia but has been able to extend its influence into areas controlled by the government based in Mogadishu.
In recent weeks fighters affiliated with the group have also attacked targets along the Somalia-Ethiopia border, which has raised concerns about a possible new strategy by al-Shabab.
The attack on Friday marks the first in the capital by the group since Somalia's new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was elected in May.
The group controls much of southern and central Somalia but has been able to extend its influence into areas controlled by the government based in Mogadishu.
In recent weeks fighters affiliated with the group have also attacked targets along the Somalia-Ethiopia border, which has raised concerns about a possible new strategy by al-Shabab.
The attack on Friday marks the first in the capital by the group since Somalia's new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was elected in May.
An affiliate of al-Qaeda, al-Shabab has engaged in a long-running conflict with the federal government.
The group controls much of southern and central Somalia but has been able to extend its influence into areas controlled by the government based in Mogadishu.
In recent weeks fighters affiliated with the group have also attacked targets along the Somalia-Ethiopia border, which has raised concerns about a possible new strategy by al-Shabab.
The attack on Friday marks the first in the capital by the group since Somalia's new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was elected in May.
Some information in this report came from Reuters, BBC, Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.
Main source: VOA News
_____________________________________________________________
Office of Strategic Communications & Analysis
ARAC International, Global Security Analyst | Human Rights Consultant
Certified by the U.S. Institute for Diplomacy and Human Rights
Institute for Economics and Peace Ambassador
https://iep.arac-international.org
The group controls much of southern and central Somalia but has been able to extend its influence into areas controlled by the government based in Mogadishu.
In recent weeks fighters affiliated with the group have also attacked targets along the Somalia-Ethiopia border, which has raised concerns about a possible new strategy by al-Shabab.
The attack on Friday marks the first in the capital by the group since Somalia's new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was elected in May.
Some information in this report came from Reuters, BBC, Agence France-Presse and The Associated Press.
Main source: VOA News
_____________________________________________________________
Office of Strategic Communications & Analysis
ARAC International, Global Security Analyst | Human Rights Consultant
Certified by the U.S. Institute for Diplomacy and Human Rights
Institute for Economics and Peace Ambassador
https://iep.arac-international.org
more information: https://www.arac-international.org/2022/08/somali-hotel-attack-by-militants-al.html
Liability for this article lies with the author, who also holds the copyright. Editorial content from USPA may be quoted on other websites as long as the quote comprises no more than 5% of the entire text, is marked as such and the source is named (via hyperlink).
