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Somalia's SYL hotel in Mogadishu 'stormed by al-Shabab' Somalia's SYL hotel in Mogadishu 'stormed by al-Shabab'
(35 minutes later)
Al-Shabab militants have stormed a heavily-fortified hotel in central Mogadishu and are now "in control", the group told the BBC. Militants have stormed a hotel in the centre of the Somali capital Mogadishu, in an attack claimed by the al-Shabab group in a message to the BBC.
Two large explosions. believed to be car bombs, were heard near the Somali Youth League (SYL) hotel. Two large explosions believed to be car bombs were heard near the Somali Youth League (SYL) hotel.
Police say they are attending the scene but there are not yet reports of any casualties. A popular park, known as the Peace Garden, is also reported to have come under attack. At least eight people have been wounded, medical sources say.
Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, is waging an armed insurgency in the country. Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, is waging an armed insurgency in Somalia.
The BBC's Ibrahim Aden in Mogadishu said that he could hear shooting. Who are al-Shabab?
Al-Shabab split by IS calls
The BBC's Ibrahim Aden in Mogadishu said he could hear shooting.
Our reporter says 40 minutes after the first car bomb went off, another explosion of the same magnitude was heard.Our reporter says 40 minutes after the first car bomb went off, another explosion of the same magnitude was heard.
A popular park, known as the Peace Garden, is also reported to have come under attack. Al-Shabab told the BBC they were "in control" of the hotel.
Al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters news agency that the attack started with a car bomb followed by a gun attack on the hotel. "We have attacked the SYL Hotel and we've forced our way into the hotel," they said.
"We are inside it [the hotel] and fighting continues," he said. However, one resident at the hotel told the BBC Somali Service the gunmen had not managed to get inside and had been repelled by security guards.
It is not unusual for al-Shabab to launch attacks in Mogadishu on Fridays, the first day of the Somali weekend.It is not unusual for al-Shabab to launch attacks in Mogadishu on Fridays, the first day of the Somali weekend.
The operation comes a day after a mortar attack on the presidential palace in Mogadishu in which three people were killed.The operation comes a day after a mortar attack on the presidential palace in Mogadishu in which three people were killed.
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