Somalia: Huge blast in Mogadishu, at least 15 killed

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG

At least 15 people have been killed after a huge blast rocked a Mogadishu hotel on Tuesday, Somalia’s official news agency reported.

The Somali Nation News Agency (SONNA) said some of those killed included Somali soldiers and civilians.

Twenty people were seriously injured after al-Shabaab militants detonated a truck filled with explosives outside the SYL hotel which houses several government officials and diplomats.

The hotel is near the Somali presidential palace.

A shopkeeper in Mogadishu told Anadolu Agency he saw clouds of smoke in the air.

“It’s a terrifying scene. I don’t know when we shall have peace in this country?” Ali Adhe said via telephone from Mogadishu.

Somalia’s al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab militants fighting to overthrow the western backed Somali government claimed responsibility for the attack on pro-Shabaab Radio Andalus.

Al-Shabaab militants have carried out several attacks in Somalia and neighboring Kenya, killing hundreds of innocent people.