Mogadishu – In a brazen and well-coordinated assault, al-Shabaab militants launched a complex attack on a beachside hotel in the Somali capital on Friday evening, leaving chaos and bloody scenes in their wake.
The attack, which targeted Pearl Beach, a picturesque hotel popular with the Mogadishu residents seeking weekend respite and government officials resulted in standoff between security forces and the militants.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attack began when a loud explosion by a suicide bomber ripped through the hotel’s entrance, followed by a hail of gunfire by gunmen on foot who stormed the hotel premises.
Panic and confusion engulfed the popular tourist spot as guests and staff scrambled to seek safety.
The attackers, armed with assault rifles and grenades, began indiscriminate shooting targeting panic- stricken people at both the main lobby and adjacent areas.
Security forces swiftly responded to the incident, engaging in a fierce gun battle with the militants as gunfire echoed through the hotel and the streets, sending nearby residents scrambling to seek shelter indoors.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with people , including some crouching across the lobby amidst burst of gunfire and injured victims screaming for urgent medical aid.
As security forces battled the militants, more explosions were reported within the hotel premises as attackers,, that strategically positioned themselves on different floors, hindering the progress of the rescue operation.
Scores of people including government officials and civilians were still trapped inside the hotel building more than nine hours since attack began.
Somali said at least six people have been killed in the siege which ended with the four attackers killed before early in the morning of Saturday.
Medical personnel and ambulances rushed to the scene, transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The assault on the beachside hotel highlights the fragile security situation in Mogadishu, where militants continue to launch daring attacks despite ongoing military operations that has seen al- Shabaab lost swathes of territories across the country in recent months.
Residents in the vicinity have also been instructed to remain indoors throughout the night until troops brought the situation under control and secured the building in the morning.
The night-long attack has sent trails of destruction, bullet marks on walls and gaping holes across the once breath-takingly beautiful luxury hotel.
The latest assault serves as a stark reminder of the pressing challenges facing the Somali government in its ongoing fight against the terrorist group .
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