ZCZC
BFF-26
SOMALIA-UNREST LEAD
10 killed, 11 injured as Somali forces end hotel siege in Mogadishu
MOGADISHU, Dec 11, 2019 (BSS/XINHUA) – The death toll from Tuesday
evening’s attack on a hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu has risen to
10 while 11 others were injured, police confirmed on Wednesday.
Zakia Hussein, deputy commissioner of the Somali Police Force, said
security forces ended a seven-hour siege on popular SYL Hotel after killing
all the five attackers.
“The attack was concluded and the five attackers were killed by the
security forces,” Hussein said in a statement, adding that two soldiers and
three civilians were killed in the attack.
She said two soldiers and nine civilians sustained injuries in the attack
on the hotel, which sits in a heavily guarded vicinity near the presidential
palace.
Hussein said the security forces safely evacuated 82 people trapped inside
the hotel, including some prominent figures. The hotel is frequented by
government officials and high-profile business people.
Unconfirmed reports say a judge was among those killed in the attack.
Sources said guards and security forces thwarted attempts by the militants
to gain entry into the hotel. Witnesses recounted the attack earlier to
Xinhua, saying they heard a powerful blast followed by gunfire.
The Al-Shabab terror group, which has been trying to overthrow the
government, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The group, which has repeatedly staged similar attacks on government
buildings and officials, said it attacked the hotel because it is close to
the presidential palace.
BSS/XINHUA/FI/ 1418 hrs