Authorities in Somalia have raised the death toll from car bomb and Gun attack that targeted Ambassador hotel in Mogadishu on Wednesday to nearly 20 people, with another 50 wounded.
The deadly attack occurred on Wednesday afternoon at around 5:30 P.M. local time, when a car bomb went off at the main gate of the hotel, and followed by heavy gunfire, according to witnesses.
Armed Al shabaab Gunmen stormed the hotel building after blasting their way onto the ground with car packed with explosives. The attack turned into a siege that continued through the night.
Speaking at a press in Mogadishu, NISA chief Gen Abirahman Turyare said Somalia’s especial forces have successfully ended the stand-off at the hotel after killing two armed Al shabaab attackers.
He said 3 attackers from Al shabaab have carried the hotel attack, but one was killed at the gate while the two remaining gunmen holed up in the building before they were shot dead by NISA forces late on Wednesday night.
Most of the hostages, including four legislators have been rescued and security forces have taken control of the hotel building located along Makka Al Mukarama street in Mogadishu.
Two Somali Lawmakers were among 20 people killed in the siege, while 50 others sustained injures in the shootout between Somali troops and Al shabaab attackers.
The Somali security troops have battled the attackers inside the hotel for almost 15 hours. Al shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they have achieved their target.
