Deadly Siege of Somali Hotel Ends as Islamist Attackers Are Defeated

Islamist militants exploded a car bomb outside the popular Hayat Hotel in Somalia’s seaside capital before entering the building on foot, according to officials. More than 20 people were killed in the siege that started Friday.

Somali security forces ended a 30-hour siege of a popular hotel by Islamist militants in which 21 civilians were killed by gunfire and explosives, police said, the deadliest attack in the East African nation’s capital in months.

At least 117 people were injured after gunmen detonated explosives and stormed the Hayat Hotel, located just over a mile from Mogadishu’s international airport, on Friday evening, Health Minister Ali Haji Adan said. Fifteen were still in critical condition, he said Sunday as he visited victims in a Mogadishu hospital.