A Somali diplomat and at least 17 others were killed when gunmen raided the Makka Al Mukarama hotel in Somalia’s capital late Friday afternoon, the Somali government said.
Gunmen, believed to be members of the Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab, detonated bombs and opened fire at people inside the hotel in Mogadishu, killing Yusuf Mohamed Ismail Bari-bari, Somalia’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Somali government said the raid began at around 5pm Friday with the gunmen setting off a car bomb at the hotel’s entrance.
The explosion rattled security personnel, giving the gunmen easy access to the hotel. Inside the hotel, the gunmen started shooting people, one witness said.
A police official said one of the gunmen blew himself up inside the hotel using the explosives he used as belt.
Government media said security forces stormed the building and killed the remaining gunmen inside.
The police said at least six people died but sources said the fatalities were over 17.
The Makka Al Mukarama Hotel, which is located along a highway near the Somalia’s presidential palace, is popular with journalists, businessmen and lawmakers.