Somali Militants Claimed Mogadishu Attack
Local Editor
Somalia's al-Shabaab extremist group claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack that targeted government officials and lawmakers in a hotel in the capital Mogadishu, where at least one legislator was injured.
"We are behind the attack. We targeted government officials in the hotel, this is part of our operation in Mogadishu," Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabaab's military operations spokesman declared.
Earlier Friday, a car bomber rammed the gate of a hotel in the center of Mogadishu where some ministers and lawmakers had gathered, and a suicide attacker then blew himself up inside the compound.
Ambulances wailed as they raced to Central Hotel and a huge plume of smoke rose above the coastal city. It was not clear if anyone was killed but police said at least one lawmaker was among those injured.
"So far we have confirmed six people dead, including soldiers and civilians," Farah Abdullahi, a police captain declared. "The death toll is sure to rise."
Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omar Arte and Transport Minister Ali Ahmed Jamac were among those wounded, along with at least one lawmaker, he said.
Police Major Nur Mohamed reported, "First the car bomb exploded at the gate of the hotel, then a suicide bomber blew himself up in the hotel compound".
"There were ministers and legislators inside the hotel. I have seen many people with injuries, including a lawmaker," he said from the scene of the blast which struck around lunchtime, the weekend in Somalia when hotels tend to be busy.
Police reported gunshots coming from inside the hotel shortly after the attack, but said they soon stopped.
Al-Shabab had previously said it would kill members of the government.
Earlier this month, al-Shabab shot dead an MP in a drive-by shooting in Mogadishu.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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