A deadly siege is underway after gunmen stormed the Qahira Hotel in Baladweyne, central Somalia, on Tuesday. The attack occurred as local elders and government officials gathered inside, witnesses and relatives reported.
Dahir Amin Jesow, a federal lawmaker from Baladweyne, confirmed that at least four people had been killed, although casualty figures were still being assessed. The Islamist militant group Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility, stating in a statement that they had killed over ten people.
Al Shabaab, which frequently orchestrates bombings and armed assaults across Somalia, aims to overthrow the government and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law. Witnesses recounted the chaotic scene as explosions and gunfire rocked the area.
“We first heard a huge blast followed by gunfire, then another blast,” said shopkeeper Ali Suleiman, who was nearby. He added that parts of the hotel had been reduced to rubble as government troops engaged the attackers.
Another witness, Halima Nur, who lives near the hotel, said sporadic gunfire continued as security forces attempted to end the standoff. The full extent of casualties remains unclear as the siege is ongoing.
