Somalia’s al-Shabaab armed group has launched a car bomb attack on a hotel in the capital, Mogadishu, before fighters stormed inside, according to police.
A vehicle loaded with explosives crashed into the entrance gate of the Afrik hotel, near Mogadishu’s strategic K-4 junction, on Sunday afternoon, police spokesman Sadiq Adan Ali said.
A number of gunmen then quickly invaded the hotel, opening fire on staff and patrons inside, he said.
Government forces responded to the attack and gunfire could be heard coming from the hotel. Police rescued many people from the hotel, including its owner and an army general, according to The Associated Press news agency.