At least four reported killed in Mogadishu hotel attack

Fighters from the Somali militant group al-Shabaab have stormed two hotels in the capital, Mogadishu on Friday evening, leaving several people dead, officials say.

“There was a loud blast and explosions”, said police officer Abdi Dhuhul, dding that the gunmen “stormed the building”.

Mohamed Osman, a guest at the Wehliya who was breaking his Ramadan fast at a restaurant inside when the attack began, said he had been shot in the leg.

Both hotels are fortified and popular with government workers, including lawmakers from the parliament nearby.

Another police officer Omar Ali, said security forces had arrived at Wehliya and were engaging the attackers on the perimeter.

Shebab insurgents have carried out repeated attacks in the area, and messages posted on websites close to the Al-Qaeda-linked group said the Islamists claimed responsiblity for the hotel raids.

Mogadishu Stadium, which houses a Ugandan contingent of African Union peacekeepers, suffered a mortar attack, the officials said. The militants have also targeted neighboring African countries, killing nearly 150 people in an assault on Garissa University College in Kenya in April. rebels al-Shabab has vowed to step up attacks during the Muslim holy month.