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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tributes to Birmingham men who died in al-Shabab militant attack | Tributes to Birmingham men who died in al-Shabab militant attack |
| (4 months later) | |
| Sheikh Abdulkaadir Abdullahi Ahmed was a Birmingham Somali community leader, said family | Sheikh Abdulkaadir Abdullahi Ahmed was a Birmingham Somali community leader, said family |
| Funeral prayers have been held for two Birmingham men who died during a siege on a Somali hotel. | Funeral prayers have been held for two Birmingham men who died during a siege on a Somali hotel. |
| Sheikh Abdulkaadir Abdullahi Ahmed, 54 and Mohamed Hassan Elmi, 53, were shot by al-Shabab militants who attacked Villa Ray in Mogadishu, said family. | Sheikh Abdulkaadir Abdullahi Ahmed, 54 and Mohamed Hassan Elmi, 53, were shot by al-Shabab militants who attacked Villa Ray in Mogadishu, said family. |
| Birmingham's Somali community gathered at the Arrahma Islamic Centre on Wednesday to pay their respects. | Birmingham's Somali community gathered at the Arrahma Islamic Centre on Wednesday to pay their respects. |
| "The turn out was huge - people were deeply, deeply saddened," said Rahma Abdulkaadir Abdullahi, 22. | "The turn out was huge - people were deeply, deeply saddened," said Rahma Abdulkaadir Abdullahi, 22. |
| "There was nowhere to stand, there was nowhere to breathe. It felt like an Eid prayer," said Mr Elmi's son Usama, 26. | "There was nowhere to stand, there was nowhere to breathe. It felt like an Eid prayer," said Mr Elmi's son Usama, 26. |
| At least 14 people, including eight civilians, are known to have died during the attack on Sunday, said Somalian officials. | At least 14 people, including eight civilians, are known to have died during the attack on Sunday, said Somalian officials. |
| The Villa Rays hotel, situated close to the presidential palace and popular with government officials, lies in an area of the Somalian capital reputed to be secure. | The Villa Rays hotel, situated close to the presidential palace and popular with government officials, lies in an area of the Somalian capital reputed to be secure. |
| The men were meeting with a government minister, said Mr Elmi's son Usama, 26, and targeted after escaping from a second floor window. | The men were meeting with a government minister, said Mr Elmi's son Usama, 26, and targeted after escaping from a second floor window. |
| The family was trying to establish how the attack had been able to happen in "one of the most secure hotels in the country", he added. | The family was trying to establish how the attack had been able to happen in "one of the most secure hotels in the country", he added. |
| Mr Ahmed founded the Islamic Centre on Whitmore Road, Small Heath, in 2002 and also chaired the organisation, said his daughter Miss Abdullahi. | Mr Ahmed founded the Islamic Centre on Whitmore Road, Small Heath, in 2002 and also chaired the organisation, said his daughter Miss Abdullahi. |
| "He's always been dubbed a pillar of the Somali Muslim community in Birmingham," she added. | "He's always been dubbed a pillar of the Somali Muslim community in Birmingham," she added. |
| "He was a very pragmatic, positive person. He had a great sense of humour. He could always make a joke, even in the worst situations. | "He was a very pragmatic, positive person. He had a great sense of humour. He could always make a joke, even in the worst situations. |
| "He was witty, he was gleeful. He was just as person that everyone could turn to when they had problems." | "He was witty, he was gleeful. He was just as person that everyone could turn to when they had problems." |
| Mohamed Hassan Elmi, also known as Sayid, owned a shop on Parliament Street, Small Heath | Mohamed Hassan Elmi, also known as Sayid, owned a shop on Parliament Street, Small Heath |
| Both men, who were cousins, were buried in Mogadishu, with the prayers held in their absence - a first for the Small Heath mosque. | Both men, who were cousins, were buried in Mogadishu, with the prayers held in their absence - a first for the Small Heath mosque. |
| Mr Elmi, who was also known as Sayid, had been invited to the hotel to discuss matters in the Gedo region where he owned land, said his son. | Mr Elmi, who was also known as Sayid, had been invited to the hotel to discuss matters in the Gedo region where he owned land, said his son. |
| The 53-year-old, a "gentle giant" and Danish national who had lived in Birmingham since 2003, was "very close to his community" and on the mosque's management committee, added Mr Elmi. | The 53-year-old, a "gentle giant" and Danish national who had lived in Birmingham since 2003, was "very close to his community" and on the mosque's management committee, added Mr Elmi. |
| "He was always smiling, always happy… anyone who needed help, he was always there," he said. "No one's got a bad word to say about him." | "He was always smiling, always happy… anyone who needed help, he was always there," he said. "No one's got a bad word to say about him." |
| A third UK resident and relative, Jamaal Mahamed Ubahle from London, was also killed in the attack, said Mr Elmi. | A third UK resident and relative, Jamaal Mahamed Ubahle from London, was also killed in the attack, said Mr Elmi. |
| 60 people were rescued from the hotel, said police | 60 people were rescued from the hotel, said police |
| Al-Shabab has previously targeted hotels known to be frequented by government officials and foreigners. | Al-Shabab has previously targeted hotels known to be frequented by government officials and foreigners. |
| UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the latest attack and called for the perpetrators to be held to account. | UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the latest attack and called for the perpetrators to be held to account. |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Small Heath | Small Heath |
| Birmingham | Birmingham |
| Somalia | Somalia |
| Africa | |
| Islam | Islam |