BRKG Islamists storm Mogadishu hotel with gov't officials inside

[Housecarl]

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/03/27/somalia-security-hotel-idINKBN0MN1RH20150327

World | Fri Mar 27, 2015 8:11pm IST
Related: World

Islamists storm Mogadishu hotel with gov't officials inside

MOGADISHU
(Reuters) - Suspected Islamist fighters stormed a popular hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Friday, trapping government officials inside, police and witnesses said.

A huge blast was heard near the gate of the hotel and gunmen were seen inside and on the roof of the building, Major Ismail Olow, a Mogadishu police officer at the scene, told Reuters.

"The hotel is now fully under the control of the militants," he said. "Al Shabaab fighters are on the top of the building and inside the hotel. It is not easy for us to go in."

A Reuters witness saw two destroyed cars at the gate and at least one dead body.

The Somali Islamist militant group Al Shabaab did not make any immediate comment but has regularly attacked hotels before.


(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh Feisal Omar; writing by Edith Honan; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

 

[Housecarl]

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20150327/af--somalia-violence-cc95b08221.html

At least 9 dead as militants attack hotel in Somali capital

Mar 27, 12:26 PM (ET)
By ABDI GULED

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — At least four gunmen took up positions inside a Mogadishu hotel Friday, exchanging fire with security forces, a Somali police official said.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press that an unknown number of people are trapped inside the building amid sporadic exchanges of gunfire.

The attack started when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden car at the gate of a hotel popular with government officials in Mogadishu on Friday. Gunmen then quickly moved in.

Hussein said he had counted at least nine bodies at the scene, and the death toll is likely to rise.

It remained unclear who was being targeted in the attack that is believed to have been carried out by the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab.

Al-Shabab routinely carries out suicide bombings, drive-by shootings and other attacks in Mogadishu, the seat of Somalia's Western-backed government.

The militants have continued to launch attacks in Mogadishu despite being ousted from their bases in the seaside city in 2011.

 

[almost ready]

Lilbitsnana posted this on the Yemen war thread just this morning:

a few hours old but will play a big part of things to come


Elijah J. Magnier retweeted
Hasan Sari @HasanSari7 · 5h 5 hours ago

#BREAKING :Arab Coalition obtained Somalia approval to use country's airspace in launching strikes against Houth targets in #Yemen .Sources

 

[mzkitty]

18m
Police say Somali special forces broke through wall at Maka Al Mukaram hotel and exchanged fire with fighters inside - @Reuters
End of alert

 

[Lilbitsnana]

Elijah J. Magnier retweeted
Live From Mogadishu @Daudoo · 40m 40 minutes ago

BREAKING: #Somalia ambassador to #Switzerland Yusuf Ismail "Bari-Bari" killed in #AlShabaab attack on Maka Al Mukarama hotel. #Mogadishu

 

[Millwright]

African tribal warfare.

Has been going on in some form since Africans started walking upright.

Genetics dictate that it will never stop.

 

[Lilbitsnana]

Conflict News @rConflictNews · 14m 14 minutes ago

BREAKING: 2 explosions in #Mogadsihu, looks like the hostage situation is still not over


Conflict News @rConflictNews · 13m 13 minutes ago

BREAKING: Lights went off at #MakaAlMukarama hotel, Al-#Shabab gunmen holed up in the top floor. #Somalia - @HarunMaruf

 

[Lilbitsnana]

African tribal warfare.

Has been going on in some form since Africans started walking upright.

Genetics dictate that it will never stop.

No, it's Islam again.

 

[Lilbitsnana]

Conflict News @rConflictNews · 6m 6 minutes ago

BREAKING: Death toll from #Mogadishu hotel attack rises to 12: Sources - @anadoluagency

 

[Lilbitsnana]

guess the other total was a weee bit behind

Hasan Sari @HasanSari7 · 31m 31 minutes ago

#BREAKING : Death toll of AlShabab attack on hotel in #Somali capital rises to 21, including Somali envoy 2 UN Human Rights Council-Geneva"

 

[mzkitty]

Another freaking toilet. Ugh.


Abdirahman Hussein ‏@Abdi_AlSheikh 37s37 seconds ago

Updates: heard several mortar gunshots targeting #Somalia presidency Villa Somalia tonight, last one 15 Minutes ago. #Mogadishu


Abdullahi Sheikh ‏@AbdullahiAbdi8 11m11 minutes ago

"@Daudoo: Its midnight in #Mogadishu, 7 hrs since #Shabaab hotel attack, gunmen still inside the hotel, throwing grenades, firing bullets."

 

[Millwright]

No, it's Islam again.

Yeah, this time its musloids.

1000 years from now it will be chief/president Oogabooga insulted warlord Mbungholio's chickens.

The mindset doesn't change there, just the excuses for a local war.

 

[Z28Camaro6D9]

What I'd really like to know is:
Who put the baab in the Al Shabaab Shabaab ?