At least 28 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a coordinated gun-and-bomb attack carried out by al-Shabab at a popular hotel in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, according to officials. The assault on Wednesday morning began when attackers rammed an explosives-packed car into the gate of Dayah Hotel, which is near Somalia’s parliament in central Mogadishu, and then stormed inside exchanging gunfire with security guards.
A second massive car bomb blast went off after ambulances and journalists had arrived at the scene, leaving at least four reporters wounded, according to AFP news agency.
“We have confirmed 28 people died and 43 others were injured in the two blasts at the hotel,” Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of the capital’s ambulance services, told Reuters news agency.
Security Minister Abdirizak Umar told reporters at the scene that 51 people were wounded in the two blasts at the hotel.
Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi, reporting from Nairobi in neighbouring Kenya, said a freelance journalist working for Al Jazeera Arabic was among those wounded.
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