Somali paramilitary forces end Elite Hotel siege with at least 20 killed

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Somali paramilitary forces end Elite Hotel siege with at least 20 killed

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) At least 20 people were killed and more than 30 were injured after gunmen and a huge car bomb targeted with an upscale popular hotel in Mogadishu's Liido beach area on Sunday.

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At least 20 killed and more than 30 injured after gunmen attacked a popular hotel in Mogadishu with gun and explosives on Sunday.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) At least 20 people were killed and more than 30 were injured after gunmen and a huge car bomb targeted with an upscale popular hotel in Mogadishu's Liido beach area on Sunday.

Somalia's paramilitary forces ended Elite Hotel siege after more than four hours gun-battle with five al-Shabaab militants.

According to two state security officials, the attackers got access to the hotel through a security checkpoint run by the police and detonated their Toyota 3RZ Surf 4-Runner before raiding the hotel.

"All the five attackers had police and military uniforms and identification cards," one security official told Horn Observer.

"One detonated the explosives-laden vehicle and dead there. The four others have started shooting indiscriminately inside the hotel rooms and the restaurant," the security official said.

The local ambulance service, Aamin Ambulance, said it had transported 28 injured persons and several dead bodies to the local hospitals. A statement from Somalia's Ministry of Information said it had lost one of its officials in the attack. The Defense Ministry also reported the loss of a senior ministry employee.

-DEATH AND DESTRUCTION-

One man who survived from the attack told Horn Observer that there was death and destruction inside the hotel after the four well armed men raided the building and begun shooting everyone they could find.

"I was sitting in the restaurant with friends when a huge blast rocked the walls. Suddenly gunfire started. I was scared but tried to be calm. I ran towards the middle way leading to a nearby parking lot. That time I could see dead bodies lying on the ground and some screaming for help. There was death and destruction everywhere," Ali Mohamed told Horn Observer.

The paramilitary officers said they had killed all the four attackers after ending a hostage taking situation in the four-storey hotel. By 10.00pm local time about 205 civilians and officials - including a member of the Federal Parliament and a senior advisor to the Prime Minister- were rescued alive.

"We are glad to announce that security forces ended the hotel attack by neutralising all attackers. They were five in total. The area is now safe as police is clearing the hotel," said Ismail Mukhtar, a spokesman for the Ministry of Information.

Al-Shabaab militant group soon claimed the responsibility of the attack.

The attack happened amid tight security in the Somali capital especially in the areas around the Liido Beach, raising many questions on how a car bomb would make its way to the heavily guarded area. A public outcry mounted on social media with angry citizens criticising Somali government and pressing the security officials to be held accountable.

"All city roads were blocked. We can not access a single road in the city with a car. We are like in a jail and again a car bomb full of armed men can have access to the Liido beach and kill many innocent lives. We need explanation. If President Farmajo can not secure Mogadishu then he should resign," said Naema Said, a resident in Mogadishu.

Somali president, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo condemned the attack and sent condolences to the families of the victims.