TheCable

At least 21 people have been killed in an overnight siege after Islamic militants attacked the Hayat hotel in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia.

The attack started on Friday evening with explosions outside the hotel before the gunmen entered the building.

Ali Haji Adan, the country’s health minister, confirmed the fatality figure on Sunday, adding that 117 people were injured in the attack.

He said out of the injured people, at least 15 were in critical condition.

He said some victims may not have been brought to hospitals.

Speaking with journalists in a briefing that took place close to the site of the attack, Abdi Hassan Mohammed Hijra, police commander, said “106 people including children and women” were rescued by security forces during the siege which ended around midnight.

“I would like to inform all Somalis that the operation at the hotel was concluded at midnight,” Hijra said.

“During the attack, the security forces rescued many civilians trapped in the hotel, including women.

“It is shocking that innocent people lost their lives here… The security forces were engaged in rescuing people one by one and in groups.”

The Al-Shabaab extremist group, which has ties with Al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the hotel.

It reportedly took Somali forces more than 30 hours to contain the attackers.

The attack on the hotel is the first major terror incident in Mogadishu since Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somalia’s new president, took over in June.

In a Twitter post, the US embassy in Somalia said it “strongly condemns” the hotel attack.

“We extend condolences to the families of loved ones killed, wish a full recovery to the injured, & pledge continued support for #Somalia to hold murderers accountable & build when others destroy,” the tweet reads.

The United States strongly condemns the al-Shabaab hotel attack in #Mogadishu. We extend condolences to the families of loved ones killed, wish a full recovery to the injured, & pledge continued support for #Somalia to hold murderers accountable & build when others destroy. 🇺🇸🇸🇴

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— U.S. Embassy Mogadishu, Somalia (@US2SOMALIA) August 20, 2022