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| Mogadishu attacks: At least 18 dead as two car bombs hit Somali capital with gunfire heard inside hotel | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two bombs have exploded in the Somali capital of Mogadishu close to the presidential palace and parliamentary buildings. | Two bombs have exploded in the Somali capital of Mogadishu close to the presidential palace and parliamentary buildings. |
| A suicide car bomb exploded outside the gate of a popular hotel while a second blast was heard shortly after near the former parliament house which had military personnel inside. | A suicide car bomb exploded outside the gate of a popular hotel while a second blast was heard shortly after near the former parliament house which had military personnel inside. |
| Police said more than 20 people, including government officials, are thought to be trapped inside the hotel where security forces are trying to end a siege by al-Shabab extremists. | Police said more than 20 people, including government officials, are thought to be trapped inside the hotel where security forces are trying to end a siege by al-Shabab extremists. |
| The Nasa-Hablod hotel, which is located 600 metres from the presidential palace, is known to be frequented by politicians and members of Mogadishu's elite. | The Nasa-Hablod hotel, which is located 600 metres from the presidential palace, is known to be frequented by politicians and members of Mogadishu's elite. |
| At least 18 people are reported to have died in the blasts. | |
| Police officer Ali Nur told Reuters most of those killed were policemen who were stationed close to the hotel's gate. A former lawmaker is also reported to have died. | Police officer Ali Nur told Reuters most of those killed were policemen who were stationed close to the hotel's gate. A former lawmaker is also reported to have died. |
| "Security forces have entered a small portion of the hotel building.... the exchange of gunfire is hellish," he said. | "Security forces have entered a small portion of the hotel building.... the exchange of gunfire is hellish," he said. |
| Captain Mohamed Hussein told the Associated Press that more than 30 people have wounded in the attack and gunfire could be heard inside the hotel where fighting is still raging. | |
| The al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility for the attack and said its fighters were still inside the hotel. | The al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility for the attack and said its fighters were still inside the hotel. |
| Abdiasis Abu Musab, the group's military operations spokesman, told Reuters: "We targeted ministers and security officials who were inside the hotel. We are fighting inside." | Abdiasis Abu Musab, the group's military operations spokesman, told Reuters: "We targeted ministers and security officials who were inside the hotel. We are fighting inside." |
| Police said the death toll is likely to rise. | Police said the death toll is likely to rise. |
| Major Abdullahi Aden told Reuters the hotel was "a busy hotel frequented by lawmakers, (military) forces and civilians". | Major Abdullahi Aden told Reuters the hotel was "a busy hotel frequented by lawmakers, (military) forces and civilians". |
| A huge cloud of smoke was seen above the scene after the explosions and one Reuters witness described a dozen wrecked cars and bloodstains in front of the hotel. | A huge cloud of smoke was seen above the scene after the explosions and one Reuters witness described a dozen wrecked cars and bloodstains in front of the hotel. |
| Somali police officer Nur Mohamed said: “The second car bomb occurred at the ex-parliament house where there were [military] forces." | Somali police officer Nur Mohamed said: “The second car bomb occurred at the ex-parliament house where there were [military] forces." |
| Police said a third blast had been heard at the scene of the attack outside the hotel. | Police said a third blast had been heard at the scene of the attack outside the hotel. |
| Captain Hussein told AP that an attacker detonated a suicide vest. | Captain Hussein told AP that an attacker detonated a suicide vest. |
| The attack in Somalia's capital comes two weeks after more than 350 people were killed in a massive truck bombing on a busy Mogadishu street in the country's worst-ever attack. | The attack in Somalia's capital comes two weeks after more than 350 people were killed in a massive truck bombing on a busy Mogadishu street in the country's worst-ever attack. |
| The extremist group al-Shabab often targets high-profile areas of Mogadishu. | The extremist group al-Shabab often targets high-profile areas of Mogadishu. |
| Since the blast two weeks ago, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has been visiting regional countries to seek more support for the fight against the extremist group. | Since the blast two weeks ago, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has been visiting regional countries to seek more support for the fight against the extremist group. |
| A 22,000-strong multinational African Union force in Somalia is expected to withdraw its forces and hand over the country's security to the Somali military by the end of 2020. | A 22,000-strong multinational African Union force in Somalia is expected to withdraw its forces and hand over the country's security to the Somali military by the end of 2020. |
| The US military also has stepped up military efforts against al-Shabab this year in Somalia, carrying out nearly 20 drone strikes. | The US military also has stepped up military efforts against al-Shabab this year in Somalia, carrying out nearly 20 drone strikes. |
| Additional reporting by agencies. | Additional reporting by agencies. |