At least 14 killed in blast outside hotel in Somali capital

At least 14 people were killed in an explosion outside a busy hotel in Somalia’s capital on Thursday that was followed by gunfire, police and rescue services said.

Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants claimed responsibility.

“The blast killed 14 people,” Abdiasis Ali Ibrahim, the spokesman for the internal security minister told Radio Mogadishu, which is run by the state.

Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of Amin ambulances, had earlier said 22 people were injured in the blast.

Al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman said his group had been “behind the blast,” adding that the dead included soldiers and officers.

Sources said the heavy explosion occurred near the popular Wehliye Hotel along the city's busy Makkah Al-Mukarramah road, with casualties being civilians.

(REUTERS)