MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – At least 9 people, including members of the security forces were killed after Al-Shabaab gunmen attacked a beachfront hotel in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Friday, police said.
In a statement, police said nine people, among them six civilians and three soldiers were killed and 10 others wounded in the complex attack that had started at 7:55pm local time.
Somali security forces ended the 12-hour siege on Pearl Hotel on Saturday morning after hours-long gun battle with militants. About 84 people, including officials were rescued, according to the police.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the siege, saying it had killed 29 people, including officials and soldiers.
It is the first complex attack on an upscale hotel in Mogadishu since the government had deployed thousands of military police officers in the city to restore stability in the conflict-torn capital.
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