Up to 17 dead in Somali bomb and hostage attack

A hotel is hit by a car bomb before gunmen storm the pizza restaurant next door, killing mostly young men.

Up to 17 people have been killed and others are being held hostage after a car bomb attack in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.

A suicide bomber rammed his car into the gate of the Posh Treats Hotel before gunmen posing as soldiers stormed the Pizza House restaurant next door.

The militants took hostages in the restaurant.

Two of the gunmen have been shot dead by security forces and 10 hostages have been rescued, including Asians, Kenyans and Ethiopians.

However, five other attackers are thought to still be inside the restaurant with the electricity cut off, complicating attempts by the security forces to end the siege.

Captain Mohamed Hussein said heavy gunfire could be heard at the scene.

He added that many of the 17 victims were young men who had been entering the restaurant when the car exploded.

Source: Up to 17 dead in Somali bomb and hostage attack