MOGADISHU, Aug 21 (NNN-Xinhua) — The international community on Saturday condemned the terrorist attack on a popular hotel in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, Friday evening, with 12 people killed and several others wounded.
In separate statements issued in Mogadishu, the United Nations, the European Union, and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) expressed solidarity with Somalia in the fight against terrorism after the latest attack on Hayat Hotel. “The UN wishes a speedy recovery for the injured, and expresses its solidarity with all Somalis in their fight against terrorism,” the UN in Somalia said.
IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu expressed deep condolences and sympathies to the families of those killed and wounded in the attack, saying the east African bloc will continue to enhance regional and international cooperation to defeat terrorism in all its forms.
The EU on its part strongly condemned the cowardly attack on the Hayat Hotel and shared its heartfelt condolences with those affected by the violence, noting that the attacks will not derail efforts to help and stabilize Somalia.
The police said the extremists armed with rocket-propelled grenades detonated two explosives outside Hayat Hotel Friday evening before storming inside the building where they engaged the security forces in an hours-long siege that entered its second day Saturday evening.
According to the Somali National Television, security forces had secured 95 percent of the hotel building by Saturday evening. “Ninety-five percent of the building has been secured. There are casualties including fatalities and the police will give details soon,” the broadcaster reported.
The Somali National Army (SNA) backed by the African Union Mission in Somalia drove al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in 2011, but the terror group is still capable of conducting attacks, targeting government installations, hotels, restaurants, and public places. — NNN-AGENCIES
