Horrifying images as gunmen storm a Somali hotel killing at least 14

Gunmen stormed a hotel in Mogadishu after a suicide bomber detonated explosives at its gate.

Somali forces take positions at Hotel Ambassador on Maka Al Mukaram Road in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on June 2. Gunment stormed the hotel and took guests hostage after a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside. (FEISAL OMAR / REUTERS)
Somali forces take positions at Hotel Ambassador on Maka Al Mukaram Road in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on June 2. Gunment stormed the hotel and took guests hostage after a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside. (FEISAL OMAR / REUTERS)

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA—Gunmen stormed a hotel in Somalia’s seaside capital Saturday, taking guests hostage and “shooting at everyone they could see,” before security forces pursued the grenade-throwing assailants to the top floor and ended the hours-long assault, police and witnesses said. At least 14 people were killed.

Islamic extremist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the latest in a series of hotel attacks in Mogadishu, one that began with a powerful explosion at the entry gate.

“We have finally ended the siege. The last remaining militants were killed on the top floor,” police Capt. Mohamed Hussein said after security forces cornered the gunmen, who had set up sniper posts on the roof of the Nasa-Hablod hotel. Police said at least four gunmen were involved in the attack, and two were killed.

Somalis gather around a dead civilian victim during an attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, June 25, 2016. A Somali police officer says a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the hotel gate followed by gunmen who fought their way into the hotel and took an unknown number of hotel guests hostage.
Somalis gather around a dead civilian victim during an attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, June 25, 2016. A Somali police officer says a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the hotel gate followed by gunmen who fought their way into the hotel and took an unknown number of hotel guests hostage.
Somali men help a civilian who was wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, June 25, 2016. A Somali police officer says a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the gate of a hotel in Mogadishu followed by gunmen who were fighting their way into the hotel..
Somali men help a civilian who was wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, June 25, 2016. A Somali police officer says a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the gate of a hotel in Mogadishu followed by gunmen who were fighting their way into the hotel..
A vehicle burns at the scene of a suicide bomb attack
A vehicle burns at the scene of a suicide bomb attack

“We have so far confirmed the deaths of 14 people. Some of them died in the hospitals,” Hussein said. The deaths included women who were selling khat, a stimulant leaf popular with Somali men, outside the hotel, he said.

Security forces rescued most of the hostages; it was not clear whether any were killed. Police and medical workers said another nine people were wounded in the assault. Police said the attack began when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the hotel entrance, ripping off its gate. Gunmen fought their way inside, and a witness said they began shooting randomly at hotel guests.

Blood was splattered on the hotel floor. The bodies of two men, including one thought to be a hotel guard and an attacker dressed in a military uniform, lay on the first floor.

Bullets pockmarked the hotel walls. Security forces combed through the dark hotel rooms, searching for explosives.

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