He claimed at least 20 guards and civilians were killed in the attack, although Al-Shabaab regularly alleges a higher casualty count than what is announced by authorities. Most victims were customers, passersby, and those at the gas station.
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In early June, at least 15 people were killed during an overnight siege at another hotel in the capital, including two members of parliament.
“This coward attack was aimed at inflicting fear among Somalis and discourage them from supporting the government”, President Mohamoud said.
After Saturday’s attack, al-Shabab quickly claimed responsibility once again. Police and medical workers said another nine people were wounded in the assault.
The bomb went off outside the gate of Hotel Naso Hablod, starting an hours-long standoff between police and gunmen, according to media reports.
More bodies, including of State Environment Affairs’s Minister Bur’i Mohamed Hamza, were found from the debris of the hotel, Xinhua news agency quoted Internal Security Ministry spokesman Abdikamil Mo’ allim Shukri as saying.
People help an injured man out of the gunfire site by a notel Mogadishu, Somalia, June 25, 2016.
A Somali soldier takes position during an attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, June 25. Gunmen from the al-Shabaab terror group took an unspecified number of hotel guests as hostages after a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the hotel entrance.
Other attacks this militant group may be responsible for are the deaths of journalists, civilian leaders, worldwide aid workers, and African Union Peacekeepers.
A hotel staffer told the AP that the extremists who entered the hotel and fired bullets everywhere were “devils” who do not care about death and love.
“We strongly condemn this attack”, a U.S. State Department official said in a statement.
Twin explosions rocked the Nasa-Hablod Hotel in the center of Mogadishu on Saturday afternoon and Al-Shabaab militants stormed the hotel, which is frequented by politicians.
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Mogadishu resident Ahmed Ali said that he has stopped going to hotels because they are “death traps because they are favorite targets for al-Shabab …”
