Somali police have said at least nine people died and 10 were injured after two bombs ripped into a hotel in the centre of the capital, Mogadishu, on Sunday morning. Gunmen thought to be from the al-Shabaab terrorist group then stormed the building, taking hostages and exchanging fire with police, authorities said.

“They have killed the owner of the hotel, a former military general and other officials during the attack,” said police Captain Mohamed Hussein by phone from the scene. “There’s a hostage situation inside the hotel.”

Al-Shabaab, the Islamic extremist rebels waging an insurgency against Somalia’s weak UN-backed government, claimed responsibility for the attack on its radio station.

The African Union said its troops went to the scene along with the Somali forces they are supporting in Mogadishu.

The incident mirrored tactics used before by al-Shabaab in which it detonates bombs to break through security at targets and then sends in fighters. Al-Shabaab wants to topple Somalia’s western-backed government and has promised more attacks.

A Reuters witness saw wrecked cars and destroyed motorbikes in the area, as well as two dead civilians lying outside. Parts of the hotel were damaged.



The hotel, which lies near a busy area in Mogadishu known as K-4, is often used by lawmakers and government officials.



Two French security advisers were abducted from the hotel by militants in 2009.



Despite being forced out of Mogadishu and many other cities and towns across Somalia, al-Shabaab continues to launch lethal attacks in the capital and elsewhere.