At least 29 dead in Mogadishu hotel attack

At least 29 people have been killed in an attack on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu after a near 12-hour siege, police have said.


"So far I am sure 29 people died - the death toll may rise," police officer Abdullahi Nur said.

At least 12 of the dead were police officers, he added.

"We suspect some other militants disguised themselves and escaped with the residents who were rescued," police officer Major Mohamed Hussein said.

"Three militants were captured alive and two others blew up themselves after they were shot," he added.

The attack began around at 5pm yesterday when a car bomb rammed the gates of Nasahablod Two hotel, which is close to the presidential palace, and destroyed the hotel's defences.

Then gunmen stormed the building and the siege only ended this morning.
 [rte.ie]
 29/10/17