Barwaaqo Hotel and Mubarak Hotel also targeted
By Zachary Stieber, Epoch Times
The hotel is near the Mogadishu Airport, and is popular with ministers and MPs, reported Harun Maruf of Voice of America. Sources told Maruf that at least five people are dead after the suicide bombing.
The hotel is also known as Hotel Jazira. One of the targeted Mubarak Hotel, while Barwaaqo Hotel was targeted by hand grenades. Overall, at least six blasts from bombs or grenades have rocked the city on Wednesday evening, reported Radio Dalsan, a local radio station.
Maruf said that police and security personnel are among the dead. “At least 1 MP wounded,” he said. Radio Dalsan said that one soldier is among the dead.
Police officer Ahmed Ali said the bombs exploded Wednesday night outside the hotel, which is near Mogadishu’s international airport.
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for it, but the al-Qaida-linked Islamic rebels of al-Shabab frequently stage lethal attacks near the seat of government and at sites popular with foreigners.
Radio Dalsan added that a car filled with explosives was detonated in a “back parking space” at the Hotel Jazira.
Maruf called the situation “chaotic,” indicating it will take a while for definite death and injury counts to emerge.
“Ex Mogadishu intelligence Chief Khalif Ereg who survived an attempt in March 2013 was at the hotel,” Maruf said. “Unclear if he was the target.”
Story developing; check back for updates
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
