Somalia’s al-Shabab rebels assault hotel in the cash city

Revealed Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 | 8:51 a.m.

Up to date Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 | 8:51 a.m.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A lodge in Somalia’s cash has been strike by an explosion and an assault by jihadist rebels, law enforcement have confirmed.

A motor vehicle loaded with explosives crashed into the entrance gate of the Afrik hotel, near Mogadishu’s strategic K-4 junction, on Sunday afternoon, police spokesman Sadiq Adan Ali said.

A amount of armed gunmen then speedily invaded the resort, opening hearth on personnel and patrons within, he said. Federal government forces responded to the attack and gunfire could be heard coming from the hotel. Law enforcement rescued numerous men and women from the hotel, together with its proprietor and an army general.

At minimum seven wounded civilians could be noticed although law enforcement did not promptly give casualty figures.

Al-Shabab, Somalia’s homegrown jihadist rebels, claimed accountability for the attack via their Andalus radio station.

“We know, they have altered very little from their normal tactic, ramming explosives into a constructing and next up, assaulting with rifles,” mentioned Ali.

In a separate incident, at least eight young children have died and scores of other folks ended up wounded when a bomb went off in the Golweyn spot, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the coastal town of Merca, some 120 kilometers (74 miles) south of Mogadishu.