Mogadishu, August 24: Suspected Shebab fighters Tuesday stormed a Mogadishu hotel where government officials were staying, spraying gunfire and killing several occupants, an official and witnesses said.
One government official said as many as four members of the Somali parliament were feared to have died in the raid, which came on the second day of major Shebab offencive that triggered deadly clashes across the city.
“So far what I can tell you is that they have killed several MPs,” a government security officer told AFP on condition of anonymity. “I think four of them are dead.”
The official could not immediately confirm their identities.
“We are not completely sure who the attackers are but we believe they are Shebab insurgents who entered the area disguised in government security uniforms,” he added.
Witnesses said the attackers stormed the Mona Hotel, which lies a stone’s throw from the presidential palace and is generally used by government officials when they stay in Mogadishu.
The Shebab carried out a hand grenade attack against the same hotel late last year, wounding two lawmakers.
—PTI—