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Al Shabaab fighters carried out a complex attack in Central Hotel (Xamar Weyne District) in the afternoon of 20/02. The attack started with detonation of a vehicle laden with explosives close to the hotel's mosque where worshipers were performing the Friday prayer. A suicide bomber then detonated her suicide vest during the confusion in the middle of the crowd who comprised of those that had survived the mosque attack and the public who rushed to help the wounded. The explosion was followed by a gunfight between the security forces and al Shabaab fighters. The hotel was packed with many people during the attack. At least 28 people were killed in this complex attack and 54 injured. Among those killed were SNG officials and an INGO national staff. Two INGO staffs were also injured in the attack. Al Shabaab immediately claimed responsibility for the attack and described it as "a major operation in Mogadishu against the apostate officials" through the pro-al Shabaab Radio Andulus and Somalimemo website. Latest reports indicate that the suicide bomber, who detonated the VBIED before blowing herself, was the hotel's receptionist. Unconfirmed media reports indicate she came from Holland year ago. Media reports indicate the suicide bomber in Mogadishu's Central Hotel was a female who worked in the hotel as receptionist for four months. Saxansaxo, a local Somali daily published in Hargeisa, gave the lady's name as Luul Ahmed Dahir from Netherlands and her husband was one of the al Shabaab leaders killed by US drone strikes in south-central Somalia. The newspaper stated that she hails from Gurgure clan and her father lives in Gabiley, where she sent her six children to, days before the attack. |
