Police Major Yasin Haji told DailyExpertNews that at least 50 others were injured in the ongoing attack on the Hyatt hotel.
A number of gunmen are holding hostages and are still firing from within at security forces delaying the operation to regain control of the hotel, Haji added.
“It took us more than 24 hours to end the terrorist siege at the Hayat hotel because the attackers took civilians as hostages and used them as human shields. We cleared the first and top floors. But they are still on the middle two floors,” Haji said. .
Ahmed Abdi, a doctor at Madina Hospital, said the death toll is likely to rise and many victims are in critical condition. Madina is one of the two major hospitals in Mogadishu where most of the victims have been admitted.
The hospital is still receiving bodies and more injured people, Abdi said.
Police Major Farah Hussein confirmed to DailyExpertNews that Somali security forces had penetrated the Hayat Hotel building and had regained most of the control of gunmen. The area is frequented by lawmakers and government officials.
Two security officials, including Mogadishu intelligence chief Muhidin Mohamed, were injured in the ongoing attack, Major Hassan Dahir, a police officer, told DailyExpertNews. Details, however, remained murky as the siege continued.
In May, US President Joe Biden decided to redeploy troops to Somalia to support local government and counter al-Shabaab. The move put an end to a decision by former President Donald Trump to withdraw all US troops from the country.
