A suicide bomber in Somalia rammed a car packed full of explosives into a hotel in a southern town, days after it was recaptured from the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab, security officials said Tuesday.
"There was a suicide attack involving terrorists at a hotel in Buulo Burde," security official Sulieman Adam told AFP, of the attack that took place late on Monday.
"Four of the attackers were also killed," he added.
African Union troops, who are fighting the Shebab alongside Somali government troops, and who captured the small town from the Islamists last week, were reported to have been staying in the hotel that was attacked.
Residents said that at least eight people were killed in the attack, but there was no official toll.
"A suicide bomber drove his car packed with explosives into the hotel, and there was a big explosion, and then gunfire afterwards," said resident Moalim Mohamed Adan, saying eight people were reportedly killed by the gunmen.
Abdirahman Qalafe, who lives in a nearby village, confirmed the toll of eight, adding he had seen a military helicopter on Tuesday morning evacuate the wounded.
"The helicopter landed and took around 11 wounded people away," he said.
The UN-backed AU force this month launched a fresh offensive against Shebab bases, with the gunmen largely fleeing ahead of the assault, only to later stage guerrilla attacks.
UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay said the offensive would be "the most significant and geographically extensive military advance" since AU troops started operations in 2007.
But Kay also warned the security situation had "deteriorated" in the last three months.
Recent Shebab attacks have targeted key areas of government or the security forces, in an apparent bid to discredit claims by the authorities that they are winning the war against them.
A suicide bomber in Somalia rammed a car packed full of explosives into a hotel in a southern town, days after it was recaptured from the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab, security officials said Tuesday.
“There was a suicide attack involving terrorists at a hotel in Buulo Burde,” security official Sulieman Adam told AFP, of the attack that took place late on Monday.
“Four of the attackers were also killed,” he added.
African Union troops, who are fighting the Shebab alongside Somali government troops, and who captured the small town from the Islamists last week, were reported to have been staying in the hotel that was attacked.
Residents said that at least eight people were killed in the attack, but there was no official toll.
“A suicide bomber drove his car packed with explosives into the hotel, and there was a big explosion, and then gunfire afterwards,” said resident Moalim Mohamed Adan, saying eight people were reportedly killed by the gunmen.
Abdirahman Qalafe, who lives in a nearby village, confirmed the toll of eight, adding he had seen a military helicopter on Tuesday morning evacuate the wounded.
“The helicopter landed and took around 11 wounded people away,” he said.
The UN-backed AU force this month launched a fresh offensive against Shebab bases, with the gunmen largely fleeing ahead of the assault, only to later stage guerrilla attacks.
UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay said the offensive would be “the most significant and geographically extensive military advance” since AU troops started operations in 2007.
But Kay also warned the security situation had “deteriorated” in the last three months.
Recent Shebab attacks have targeted key areas of government or the security forces, in an apparent bid to discredit claims by the authorities that they are winning the war against them.
