Ambulances near the Afrik hotel in Mogadishu, January 31, 2021. -

Farah Abdi Warsameh / AP / SIPA

Terrorism has hit Somalia again.

An attack claimed by radical Islamists Shebab which continued Sunday evening in a hotel in central Mogadishu, left at least three dead and six wounded, we learned from a security source.

On Sunday afternoon, a car bomb exploded in front of the Afrik Hotel, located near the airport, then armed men entered the building, exchanging gunshots with security personnel.

Six civilians injured

“So far the death of three people, two civilians and a security guard, has been confirmed.

But the toll could be higher, ”said Mohamed Dahir, an official with the national security agency.

He added that six civilians were wounded and that the “siege”, which began more than five hours ago, was continuing.

“We believe there are three terrorists holed up in a room on the lower level of the main building.

But unfortunately there are still civilians trapped inside, even though many of them, including senior military officials, were rescued and taken out of the building, ”Mohamed Dahir also said.

Two witnesses said they saw three bodies, a woman and two men.

Surrounded hotel

"The terrorists attacked the Afrik hotel around 5 pm and the police immediately entered the building," police spokesman Sadik Dudishe said in the evening.

On Sunday evening, the hotel was surrounded by Somali armed forces and the entire area surrounding it was cordoned off.

The shebabs claimed responsibility for the attack in a brief statement.

"The mujahedin are taking part in an ongoing operation inside the Afrik hotel, where members of the apostates are posted," they said on a pro-shebab website.

Somalia was due to hold presidential and legislative elections before February 8, but the process became mired in disagreements between the internationally backed federal government in Mogadishu and Somali regional states.

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