Aftermath of hotel bombing (Image, Reuters)

Islamist group Al Shabaab, (affiliated to Al Qaeda) is fulfilling its promise to carry out more attacks in Somalia, claiming responsibility for an attack where car bombs targeted the Wehliya and Siyaad hotels in the capital Mogadishu. Furquan media alleges 20 people were killed and 33 injured following the assault where gunmen attacked the buildings as members of parliament, lawmakers and other guests were breaking their fast at around 18:10 local time. The hotels are situated close to the parliament. Al Shabaab is currently in conflict with the Federal Government of Somalia and the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Ahmad Umar is the current leader and came to position following a US airstrike which killed Ahmed Abdi Godane in 2014. The BBC reported that a mortar attack was also carried out on a base of the African Union (AU) force in the city at the same time as the hotel incidents.

Horseed Media based in Puntland State, Somalia stated,

“Somali government officials have said that 12 gunmen launched attacks on both hotels and were killed in a firefight with security forces. The siege at the hotels lasted more than five hours. More than 50 people were rescued including ministers and members of the Federal Parliament, according to officials.”

Al Furquan media (Radio) tweeted the following information on deaths and injuries:-

UPDATE: According to #AlShabaab, the casualties of last night attack on hotels Wehliye & Siyad in #Mogadishu #Somalia are as follows:-

1) – Issa Wehliye, MP & owner of Hotel Wehliye, broke a shoulder – Abdirashiid Adan Gabyow, MP, injured – Abdiqadir Ali Hareeri, MP, injured

2) – Afdima, manager of Somali Medicines Agency, injured – 3 govt soldiers from Alfa group injured – Bare Xaashi, ex MP, killed

3) – Ibrahim Jeebe, ex MP, killed – Hanad Sargal, intelligence official, killed – Col. Abdinasir, killed – 4 soldiers frm Alfa group killed

4) Total casualties 20 killed & 33 injured, including MP’s, ex MP’s, intelligence officials, govt ministerial employees & govt soldiers.

Journalist Hamza Mohamed gives his analysis on the attack for Al Jazeera, see following link,

The situation following the attacks is said to be tense.

Radio Dalsan tweeted,

BREAKING journalists arrested for covering the wounded people in Madina Hospital over last nights attack in #Mogadishu

Live from Mogadishu put out the following tweet highlighting more unrest after a young boy was killed. This follows on from the recent clampdown arresting anyone suspected of having links to militants.

BREAKING: Huge demo agnst #AMISOM erupts in Marko town after #AU troops executed a 15 yr old boy they grabbed from Al Rahma mosque. #Somalia

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.