AT least eight people were confirmed dead in an Islamist militant attack on a hotel in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, a security official said today, as Somali forces continued to battle gunmen holed up inside the building.

“The security forces continued to neutralise terrorists who have been cordoned inside a room in the hotel building, most of the people were rescued but at least eight civilians were confirmed dead so far,” Mohamed Abdikadir said.

Fighters from the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab stormed the popular Hayat Hotel last night in a hail of gunfire and bomb blasts.

“The security forces rescued dozens of civilians including children who were trapped in the building safely,” Abdikadir told AFP.  

The siege was still under way early this morning, with sporadic gunfire and loud blasts heard in the area.

It is the biggest attack in Mogadishu since Somalia’s new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was elected in May.

Dozens of people have been gathering outside the hotel to discover the fate of loved ones caught up inside.

“We have been looking for a relative of mine who was trapped inside the hotel, she was confirmed dead together with six other people, two of them I know,” witness Muudey Ali said. – AFP, August 20, 2022.