1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
German coalition collapseMiddle EastUS election

Explosion, gunfire at popular hotel in Mogadishu

March 27, 2015

A popular hotel in the Somali capital has come under attack. An explosion was heard, followed by gunfire at the building, where government officials were staying.

https://p.dw.com/p/1EybF
Somalien Explosion einer Autobombe vor einem Hotel in Mogadischu am 27.03.2015
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/ S. Y. Warsame

A huge blast and gunfire were heard at a popular hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Friday, police said.

According to the news agency AFP, a car bomb was detonated, killing at least one person.

Islamist fighters then began firing on the building. Reuters news agency further reported that they had successfully entered the premises.

"Al-Shabab fighters are on the top of the building and inside the hotel," a police officer, told Reuters. "Some government officials are inside the hotel."

No group has officially claimed responsibility for the bombing yet.

Central Mogadishu has been a frequent target of Somalia's al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants.

Al-Shabab has regularly attacked hotels in the country before as part of their fight against the country's internationally-backed government and African Union forces supporting it.

ra/kms (Reuters, AFP)