Somalia: Al-Shabab attack at Mogadishu hotel 'kills 28'

Al-Shabab attackers fight their way into a popular hotel in central 

Mogadishu after ramming a car bomb into its gate.

At least 28 people have been killed and dozens 

wounded in a coordinated gun-and-bomb attack

 carried out by al-Shabab at a popular hotel in

 Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, according to officials.

The assault on Wednesday morning began when 

attackers rammed an explosives-packed car into the

 gate of Dakar Hotel, which is near Somalia's parliament

 in central Mogadishu, and then stormed inside

 exchanging gunfire with security guards.

A second massive car bomb blast went off after

 am balance and journalists had arrived at the scene,

 leaving at least four reporters wounded, according

 to AFP news agency.

"We have confirmed 28 people died and 43 others

 were injured in the two blasts at the hotel,"

 Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of the capital's 

ambulance services, told Reuters news agency.

Security Minister Abdirizak Umar told reporters at the 

scene that 51 people were wounded in the two blasts

 at the hotel.

Colonel Abdiqadir Hussein, a police officer, told Reuters 

that security forces eventually managed to secure the building.

"We have rescued the people and concluded the operation

 at Dayah Hotel."

Witnesses said the powerful explosions caused

 expensive damage in the area near the hotel, 

shattering dozens of windows and damaging parked

 cars.

"All the neighbouring houses have been destroyed,

" Yes Hassan, editor of Somali newspaper Haqiqa Times,

 told media from the scene.

"I see people crying because they have lost their relatives,

" he added.

"It is really a big tragedy."

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, according

 to a report by Andalus radio, which is linked to the 

armed group.

"Well-armed mujahideen [fighters] attacked the hotel and

 now they are fighting inside the hotel," the report said.

Dozens of people, including members of Somalia's

 parliament, were thought to have been in the hotel at the

 time of the attack, Captain Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press news agency.

The hotel is popular with politicians, government officials

 and entrepreneurs.

Al-Shabab has carried out a series of deadly attacks in

Somalia to try to topple the country's western-backed

government.

In June, the group claimed responsibility for an attack on 

the Nasa Hablod hotel, which killed at least 15 people.