Hiiraan Online
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
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Abdullahi Jama Kabaweyne and Mohamud Mohamed Gure, the two MPs were among those who killed
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Somali security forces freed dozens of hostages who were being held by Al Shabab assailants at the ambassador hotel in the Somali capital in an attack which killed at least 15 people including two legislators.
At midnight, the siege is ongoing and Somali and African Union forces say they were still fighting to clear the hotel of the remaining militants holed up inside the building.
Al Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack, which started with a suicide car bomb at the gate of the hotel frequented by Somali lawmakers and officials followed by gunmen who stormed the hotel.
Residents in Hodan district told HOL that heavy gunfire could still be heard around the hotel with hundreds of soldiers have been deployed in the area.
Witnesses and survivors told HOL that the attackers sprayed bullets on guests in the hotel before they took positions in the top floor where they continue to hold out security forces.
Two legislators Mohamed Mohamud Gure and Abdullahi Jama were among people killed in the ongoing siege.
Sheikh Abdiaziz Abu Musab, a spokesman for Al Shabab told the group’s media arm that their fighters were still fighting security forces in the building; however, Somali officials said that troops were working to end the siege in the next few hours.
Meanwhile, gunfire and explosions rang out in the hotel building Wednesday night as elite forces were fighting to regain the control of the hotel.
HOL will keep you posted for any further updates as they come.