Clashes took place in a hotel between radical Islamists Chabab, affiliated with Al-Qaeda, and the security forces that were trying to neutralize them. The attackers were always entrenched in the hotel, early Saturday morning.
Le Monde with AFP
At least eight civilians were killed in clashes between radical Islamists Chabab, who attacked a Hôtel de Mogadishu, and the security forces trying to neutralize them, said a security official on Saturday August 20 .
“The security forces continued to neutralize the terrorists who were surrounded in a room in the hotel building, most people were rescued but at least eight civilians are at this stadium dead,” declared this manager, Mohamed Abdikadir.
Chabab jihadists, affiliated with Al-Qaeda, stormed the Hayat hotel on Friday evening in a shots and explosions of bombs.
the most important attack since The election of the president in May
“The security forces have saved dozens of civilians, including children, who were trapped in the building,” added Mr. Abdikadir.
The attackers were still entrenched in the hotel early Saturday, sporadic shots and strong explosions were heard in the area.
This is the most important attack in the Somali capital since the election of President Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud in May.
A dozen people were gathered in the night in front of the building to try to get news from their loved ones. “We were looking for a member of my family (…) stuck inside the hotel, his death was confirmed as well as that of six other people, including two that I know,” testified the One of these people, Muudey Ali.