Al Qaeda Attack: At Least 12 Killed As Militants Storm Somalia Hotel, Hold Hostages

Mogadishu: At least a dozen people have been killed in Somalia’s capital city after Al Qaeda-linked militants attacked a hotel.

Rescue authorities were still battling with the militants to free hostages, intelligence officer Mohammed said on Saturday.

The attackers forced their way into the Hayat Hotel — a popular destination for lawmakers and other government officials — on Friday evening with two car bombs before opening fire, reported Reuters.

Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group claimed responsibility for the attack.

“So far we have confirmed 12 people, mostly civilians, have died,” the intelligence officer was quoted as saying.

The number of hostages being held by militants, on the second floor of the hotel, is not known, preventing authorities from using heavy weapons.

Sounds of multiple explosions were heard late on Friday night and gunfire continued to be heard on Saturday as well as government forces tried to wrest control of the hotel from militants, witnesses said.

Large sections of the hotel were reportedly destroyed.

Al Shabaab has been trying to topple the Somali government for over a decade, so that a rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law can be established.