Somali security officers secure the scene of a suicide bomb explosion, at the gate of Naso Hablod Two Hotel in Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu, Somalia on Saturday. Mohamed Hussein said 30 people, including a government minister, were rescued from the Nasa-Hablod hotel as heavy gunfire continued in the standoff between extremists and security forces. Al-Shabab, Africa’s deadliest Islamic extremist group, quickly claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack and said its fighters were inside the hotel. Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said the new attack was meant to instill fear in Somalis who united after the 14 October attack, marching in the thousands through Mogadishu in defiance of al-Shabab. US military officials and others in recent months have expressed concern that Somali forces are not yet ready.

Source: Mint October 29, 2017 04:41 UTC