The deadly siege of the Afrik hotel, which left 10 other civilians injured, ended after Somali security forces battled militants for eight hours, police spokesman Sadik Aden Ali told a news conference on Monday morning. .
The attack began on Sunday afternoon at 5 pm local time (9 am ET) with a car bomb at the hotel gate frequented by government officials and politicians.
General Mohamed Nur Galaal – a retired veteran military man who once served as the country’s defense minister in 1991 – was among those killed in the attack, police said.
Dozens of other civilians were rescued by security forces. Somali President Mohamed Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble condemned the attack and sent their condolences to those who lost their loved ones.
“My most sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the heinous terrorist attack at Hotel Afrik, including General Mohamed Nur Galal, who has served his country valiantly for more than 50 years,” said Roble via Twitter.
Al-Shabaab took responsibility for the attack in a statement broadcast by Radio Andalus, its spokesman. CNN was unable to independently verify this statement.
The hotel is frequented by members of Parliament, politicians and security officials, but not by foreigners. Outside the hotel is the main security checkpoint at the airport and at Halane base, which houses Western missions, including the U.S. Embassy.
The reason for the attack is unclear, but Somali police captain Ahmed Hassan told CNN that an important military commander was inside the hotel at the time of the attack. Other military officers and lawmakers were also inside the hotel, added Hassan.
The United Nations condemned the attack on Monday.
“We are shocked by this reprehensible and senseless attack on a place frequented by innocent civilians, and we condemn it in the strongest terms,” said UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, in a statement.
“The United Nations in Somalia expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and wants a speedy recovery for the injured,” he added.
Al-Shabaab took responsibility for the attack in a statement broadcast by Radio Andalus, its spokesman. CNN was unable to independently verify this statement.
US troops in Somalia mainly train and advise local Somali forces during the battle against Al-Shabaab. The US military also carries out air strikes against the group and the local ISIS affiliate in the country, killing an important Al-Shabaab leader in a targeted attack in September.