The deadly siege at the Afrik Hotel, which left 10 other civilians injured, ended after Somali security forces fought militants for eight hours, police spokesman Sadik Aden Ali told a news conference. press early Monday.
The attack began on Sunday afternoon, at 17:00 local time (9:00 ET), with a car bomb at the hotel gate frequented by government officials and politicians.
General Mohamed Nur Galaal – a retired veteran military officer who was once defense minister in 1991 – was among those killed in the attack, according to police.
Dozens of other civilians were rescued by security forces. Somali President Mohamed Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble condemned both attacks and sent condolences to those who lost loved ones.
“My sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the horrific terrorist attack on the Afrik Hotel, including General Mohamed Nur Galal, who has served his country bravely for over 50 years,” Roble said on Twitter.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement broadcast by Andalus Radio, his broadcaster. CNN could not independently verify this claim.
The hotel is frequented by deputies, politicians and security officials, but not by foreigners. Outside the hotel is the main security checkpoint to the airport and Halane Base, which hosts Western missions, including the US Embassy.
The motive for the attack is unclear, but Somali police captain Ahmed Hassan told CNN that a top military commander was in the hotel at the time of the attack. Other senior military and parliamentary officials were also inside the hotel, Hassan added.
The United Nations condemned Monday’s attack.
“We are constrained by this reprehensible and senseless attack on a place frequented by innocent civilians and we condemn it in the strongest terms,” the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, said in a statement.
“The United Nations in Somalia expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes them a speedy recovery,” he added.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for his attack on a statement broadcast by Andalus Radio, his broadcaster. CNN could not independently verify this claim.
US troops in Somalia primarily train and advise local Somali forces during the fight with Al-Shabaab. The U.S. military is also conducting airstrikes against the country’s ISIS group and local affiliate, killing a top al-Shabaab leader in a targeted strike in September.