It took Somali forces more than 30 hours to contain the militants who stormed Mogadishu’s Hayat Hotel on Friday night in an attack that began with loud explosions. The siege ended around midnight, police commissioner Abdi Hassan Hijar told reporters. “During the attack, security forces rescued many civilians trapped in the hotel, including women and children,” he said. Damage is seen at the top of the Hayat Hotel after gunmen stormed the building. (Farah Abdi Warsameh/The Associated Press) Police have not yet given a detailed explanation of how the attack unfolded. It remains unclear how many gunmen entered the hotel. Ismail Abdi, the hotel manager, told The Associated Press that security forces were still working to clear the area. Security forces and the media monitor the wreckage of the hotel on Sunday. (Farah Abdi Warsameh/The Associated Press) Onlookers gathered outside the gates of the heavily damaged hotel on Sunday morning, watching the scene unfold. The Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab, which has links to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest in its frequent attempts to hit places visited by government officials. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, according to a spokesman’s statement, which said the UN supports the people of Somalia “in their fight against terrorism and in their journey towards peace”.
