42
Among the injured is Somali Security Minister Ahmed Mohamed Doodishe, as police officer Mohamed Dahir told the German Press Agency. The number of victims will probably increase, he said. It is believed that there are many injured in the hotel.
Terrorist militia has ties to al-Qaeda
Heavily armed al-Shabaab fighters stormed the hotel, which only politicians, selected business people and high-ranking state guests have access to, on Sunday evening during prayer time. The terrorist militia, which has close ties to al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack came two days following a large-scale military operation by Somali government troops in the center of the country, in which the government said 100 al-Shabaab members were killed.
