Armed attackers stormed a hotel in Baladweyne, central Somalia, on Tuesday, where local elders and government officials had gathered, triggering an ongoing siege, witnesses and relatives told media.
At least four people have been confirmed dead so far, according to Dahir Amin Jesow, a federal lawmaker from Baladweyne. “We are still counting casualties,” he said.
Al Shabaab, the militant Islamist group, claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement, asserting that its fighters had killed more than ten people.
The group, which frequently carries out bombings and shootings in Somalia, is waging an insurgency to overthrow the government and impose its strict interpretation of Sharia law.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene. “We first heard a huge blast followed by gunfire, then another explosion,” said Ali Suleiman, a shopkeeper nearby. He added that parts of the Qahira Hotel had been reduced to rubble as government forces battled the attackers.
Halima Nur, who lives near the hotel, reported intermittent gunfire as the siege dragged on.
