At least 10 persons have been killed and 25 others injured in an attack by Al-Shabaab on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu, police said on Wednesday.
A car bomb was set off by a suicide bomber at the gate of the Ambassador Hotel, after which other gunmen moved in.
"We can confirm that at least 10 civilians were killed in the blast while 25 others injured," police officer Mohamed Farah told Xinhua.
Witnesses said they heard a huge blast followed by heavy gunfire from the hotel.
Local residents said troops were trying to rescue possible hostages in the hotel.
Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Ambassador Hotel on the busy Makka Al-mukarram street is frequented by government officials.
Al-Shabaab, which has been battling the Somali government for years, stages periodic attacks in the country.
--IANS
vr/
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app