Somalia: Hotel Under Siege, 16 People Dead

At least 16 people have been killed after a group of Islamist gunmen stormed a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia.

According to reports, four gunmen – believed to be members of the Somalia-based Islamist group, Al-Shabaab – stormed the beachside Elite Hotel on Sunday afternoon, 16 August, after detonating a car bomb that blew off the establishment’s gates.

After entering the hotel, the gunmen took hostages, which mainly consisted of men and women who had been dining there.

Security forces sealed off the hotel before exchanging gunfire with the Al-Shabaab assailants. Four hours later, the siege had come to an end, with all four gunmen killed.

Among the victims include two government employees – one of whom has been identified as Abdirisak Abdi, a ministry official – three hotel security guards, four civilians and three unidentified people.

Over 200 people were rescued from the hotel, of which 28 people who were wounded during the siege were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

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