Just in: Militants launch suicide attack on hotel, take hostages

– A large bomb blast rocked a hotel in Mogadishu, the Somalia capital

– The attack is blamed on the Islamist group al-Shabaab

– After the explosion gunmen stormed the building and took hostages

A large bomb blast rocked a hotel in the centre of Mogadishu, the Somalia capital, on Saturday, June 25.

According to BBC, the recent attack is blamed on the Islamist group al-Shabaab.

Officials said that a vehicle bomb was detonated at the gates of the Naso Hablod hotel before a group of gunmen stormed the building. They fired on people before reportedly taking hostages.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram Calls Al-Shabaab To Pledge Allegiance With ISIS

Al-Shabab militants frequently carry out attacks in the city in their bid to topple the Western-backed government.

Confirming the incident, Maj Nur Farah, the police spokesman, said: “They started with a suicide bomb and then stormed in.”

Earlier this month, at least 10 people were killed and 50 injured in an attack on another hotel in Mogadishu, which was claimed by al-Shabaab.

On June 10, the terrorists gruesomely murdered four security agents after they were found to be spies.

One of the executed people was beheaded based on allegation of giving out information about the terrorist group to the Unites States of America.

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