MOGADISHU, Somalia, July 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) – At least six people have been killed and about 50 others injured on Friday evening, following a terrorist attack at a hotel in the southern city of Kismayo in Somalia, officials confirmed.
Jubbaland security forces spokesman, Abdi Nur Ibrahim Hussein, said, armed militants stormed a hotel in Kismayo, after they rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives at the entrance.
“The militants drove into the hotel and made way into the building after detonating bombs. Security forces are now engaging the militants inside the hotel,” said Hussein, adding there were heavy casualties.
Eye witnesses confirmed the attack. “I was inside the hotel when I heard heavy gunfire, but luckily I was rescued by Jubaland security forces,” Mohamed Gedi said.
The hotel is popular among members of parliament and ministers. Some lawmakers were reportedly residing at the hotel at the time of the attack.
Residents said, the hotel recently hosted the delegates for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Jubaland.
The militant group, al-Shabab, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying, their fighters broke into the hotel, killing several security forces.
Somali journalists association confirmed that, two journalists were among those killed in the attack.
According to the Somali Journalists Syndicate, Mohamed Omar Sahar, an SBC TV correspondent, based in Kismayo, and Hodan Naleyeh, a television journalist and founder of Integration TV, were both killed in the attack.– NNN-AGENCIES
