Al-Shabab Kills Military General, 8 Others In A Hotel Attack In Somalia

The Somalia security forces have ended an assault by the Alqaeda-linked Harkat al-Shabab Almujahideen terrorists that killed nine people and injured at least ten others at a hotel attack in Mogadishu.

According to a statement by Sadik Dudishe, a police spokesperson, the terrorists, popularly known as Al-shabab followed a suicide attack with shootouts that lasted in the early Monday.

The attack began Sunday afternoon when a car bomb exploded at the entrance of the Hotel Afrik, located in the centre of the Somali capital and near the city’s airport.

The hotel is frequented by Somali officials, members of the security forces and community leaders.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the attackers hit the hotel and later engaged with security forces in a shootout.

Sadik Ali told reporters from the scene via Facebook that “the operation is over now”. “ Nine people including four attackers died and over 10 civilians were injured,” he added.

The country’s Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble unveiled, in a statement, that among those killed was a former military general, Mohamed Nur Galal.

He condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric

“I condemn the barbaric attack. May Allah have mercy on all those who died. General Mohamed Nur Galal, will be remembered for his over 50-year role in defending the country,” he said.

Al Shabaab has battled since 2008 to overthrow Somalia’s central government and establish its rule, based on its own harsh interpretation of Islamic law.

Members of the violent group have been waging different attacks on the Horn of Africa seeking to unseat the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu.

Government forces with support from Africa Union peacekeepers drove them out of the city in 2011.

The group still controls a vast territory outside the cities, from where it organises and launches attacks against different targets in Somalia and parts of Kenya.