At least 15 dead in Mogadishu terror attack

At least 15 people were killed in Mogadishu after a suspected al-Shabaab militant crashed his vehicle into a gate outside the Hotel Ambassador  in the Somali capital, a hotel frequented by diplomats, and gunmen stormed the building.

The al-Qaida-affiliated militant group quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. “We targeted the members of the apostate government ... We killed many of them inside and we shall give details later. Our mujahideen are on the top floor of the hotel building,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabaab’s military operation spokesman, said.

Authorities could not immediately verify al-Shabaab’s statement. Police officials confirmed that two MPs were among those killed: “Lawmakers Mohamud Mohamed and Abdullahi Jamac died in the hotel. They lived in it. Many other people including lawmakers were rescued. The operation is about to end now. So far the death toll we have is 15 dead and 20 others wounded.”

Al-Shabaab was pushed out of Mogadishu by African Union peacekeeping forces in 2011. But it has remained a potent threat in Somalia, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the western-backed government.

In February, at least nine people were killed when al-Shabaab fighters set off a car bomb at the gate of a park near a hotel in the capital. In January an attack on a beach-front restaurant killed at least 17 people .

Al-Shabaab has also claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in Kenya and Uganda, which contribute troops to an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.