Terrorist group Al-Shabab Friday attacked a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu and took control of the building. The assault on the Hayat Hotel triggered an intense gunfight between security forces and gunmen of the jihadist group that has claimed lives of 8 civilians so far, reported news agency ANI
"The security forces continued to neutralise terrorists who have been cordoned inside a room in the hotel building, most of the people were rescued but at least eight civilians were confirmed dead so far," said the security commander of the hotel, Mohamed Abdikadir, reported ANI.
The assault on the hotel building in the capital Mogadishu came after two car bomb blasts and gunfire.
"We don't have the details so far but there are casualties, and the security forces are now engaging with the enemy who are holed up inside the building," Hassan added.
Witnesses said a second blast occurred outside the hotel a few minutes after the first, inflicting casualties on rescuers and members of the security forces and civilians who rushed to the scene after the first explosion.
"The area is cordoned off now and there is exchange of gunfire between the security forces and the gunmen," said one witness, Mohamed Salad.
The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab armed group that has been fighting for close to 15 years to topple the Somalian government claimed responsibility for the attack. The jihadist group wants to establish its own rule in the country based on Islamic laws.
"A group of Al-Shabaab attackers forcibly entered Hotel Hayat in Mogadishu, the fighters are carrying out random shooting inside the hotel," the group said in a brief statement on a pro-Shabaab website, reported AFP.
Earlier this week, 13 Al-Shabab fighters were killed in an air raid in the central-southern part of the country by US security forces.
The US has carried out several air raids on the fighters in recent weeks.
The attack on the Hayat Hotel is the first major assault after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Took office in May.
(With inputs from AFP and ANI)