This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-36430306
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Somalia attack: MPs among dead in hotel blast and gun raid | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Gunmen have stormed a hotel in the centre of the Somali capital Mogadishu, with reports of at least 10 dead and 50 wounded. | |
The attackers entered the Ambassador Hotel on Maka al-Mukarama street after setting off a car bomb at the gates outside, witnesses said. | The attackers entered the Ambassador Hotel on Maka al-Mukarama street after setting off a car bomb at the gates outside, witnesses said. |
Somalia's state news agency said two MPs were killed in the blast, with another four rescued. | |
The al-Shabab militant group was quick to say it was behind the attack. | |
The BBC's Somali Service reporter Ibrahim Aden in Mogadishu says the explosion is one of the largest to hit the city and the scale of destruction is huge. | The BBC's Somali Service reporter Ibrahim Aden in Mogadishu says the explosion is one of the largest to hit the city and the scale of destruction is huge. |
Somalia's state news agency Sonna said at least 50 people were hurt and that the death toll was likely to rise. | |
It named the dead MPs as Abdullahi Jama Kabaweyne and Mohamoud Mohamed Gure. | |
The head of the city's Amiin ambulance service has told the BBC the main Medina hospital is overcrowded. | The head of the city's Amiin ambulance service has told the BBC the main Medina hospital is overcrowded. |
"I was the first person to reach scene. The damage was enormous," Dr Abdulkadir Andirahman Haji Aden said. | "I was the first person to reach scene. The damage was enormous," Dr Abdulkadir Andirahman Haji Aden said. |
"My brother and his son were among those injured. We are now in Medina hospital and it is overcrowded with wounded people. I have never seen something like this." | "My brother and his son were among those injured. We are now in Medina hospital and it is overcrowded with wounded people. I have never seen something like this." |
Al-Shabab, which is battling the UN-backed government, was driven from Mogadishu in 2011 but still remains a potent threat and frequently carries out attacks in the city. | Al-Shabab, which is battling the UN-backed government, was driven from Mogadishu in 2011 but still remains a potent threat and frequently carries out attacks in the city. |
The government, with the help of African Union forces, is fighting the al-Qaeda-linked group to regain control of the country. | The government, with the help of African Union forces, is fighting the al-Qaeda-linked group to regain control of the country. |
Earlier on Wednesday, the government announced it had killed Mohamed Kuno, the al-Shabab militant who led the attack on Garissa University in Kenya in April 2015 that killed 148 people. | Earlier on Wednesday, the government announced it had killed Mohamed Kuno, the al-Shabab militant who led the attack on Garissa University in Kenya in April 2015 that killed 148 people. |
He was one of 16 al-Shabab militants - four of them senior leaders - killed in an overnight raid on their convoy in Kismayo, a port city in southern Somalia. | He was one of 16 al-Shabab militants - four of them senior leaders - killed in an overnight raid on their convoy in Kismayo, a port city in southern Somalia. |