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Somalia: Several dead, 'hostages taken' in Mogadishu hotel attack
aljazeera ^ | 08/19/2020

Posted on 08/16/2020 12:38:56 PM PDT by BenLurkin

At least nine people have been killed and more than a dozen wounded in a gun and bomb attack by suspected al-Shabab fighters on an upmarket beachfront hotel in Somalia's capital, officials and witnesses have said.

Security forces were struggling to regain control of the Elite Hotel in the Lido beach area more than an hour after the assault began on Sunday, amid fears the attackers had taken hostages.

Among the dead are two government employees, three hotel security guards and four civilians, police officer Ahmed Bashane told the DPA news agency.

Military vehicles could be seen taking positions around the hotel in the night, with officials concerned the darkness could prolong the siege.

Captain Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press that the attack started with a powerful car bomb which blew off the security gates to the Elite Hotel. Then gunmen ran inside and took hostages, mostly young men and women who were dining at the hotel, he said.

Security forces have so far shot dead two of the attackers in the hotel amid fears of hostage crisis inside the complex, said Ismail Mukhtar, a spokesman of Somalia’s information ministry.

Aamin Ambulance, a Mogadishu-based private service, reported that at least 28 people were wounded.

Witnesses confirmed the attack began with a heavy explosion and reported that people were running from the area as gunfire could be heard from the hotel, which is frequented by government officials.

"The blast was very heavy and I could see smoke in the area. There is chaos and people are fleeing from nearby buildings," said witness Ali Sayid Adan.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but it was similar to others carried out by the al-Shabab group, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda.

(Excerpt) Read more at aljazeera.com ...


TOPICS: War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alshabab; hotel; ilhanomar; islam; mogadishu; shole; somalia
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1 posted on 08/16/2020 12:38:56 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

I hope this is resolved quickly because we have a giant family trip scheduled.


2 posted on 08/16/2020 12:43:16 PM PDT by samadams2000 (Get your houses in order.)
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To: BenLurkin

Some people did something.


3 posted on 08/16/2020 12:46:07 PM PDT by rwa265
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To: samadams2000

Be sure to wear you face diapers.


4 posted on 08/16/2020 12:47:50 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: rwa265
True, but their lives don't matter.
5 posted on 08/16/2020 12:51:23 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: BenLurkin

Only interetsed in story if omar and her family are the hostages.............that didnt make it


6 posted on 08/16/2020 12:52:06 PM PDT by ronnie raygun
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To: BenLurkin

There goes my vacation plans.


7 posted on 08/16/2020 12:54:26 PM PDT by Husker24
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To: BenLurkin

A religion of peace operation?


8 posted on 08/16/2020 12:56:01 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to says it.)
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To: BenLurkin

Oh, Somalia. I thought it sounded like England.


9 posted on 08/16/2020 1:00:50 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Prediction: G. Maxwell will surprise everyone by not dying anytime soon.)
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To: BenLurkin

Sounds like a family issue


10 posted on 08/16/2020 1:03:40 PM PDT by Pollard (whatever)
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To: BenLurkin

Vacationing in that hellhole?


11 posted on 08/16/2020 1:05:05 PM PDT by AppyPappy (How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?)
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To: BenLurkin

As a veteran helicopter (MEDEVAC) pilot of Mogadishu I can say with certainty that the place is and always will be a shithole. We had one black pilot in our unit, when we left he said he would never refer to himself as an African-American again. He said he was an Black-American! He wanted no ties to those people whatsoever, tribalism is complete violence.


12 posted on 08/16/2020 1:13:49 PM PDT by Bigbrown
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To: BenLurkin

Send the “squad” over to work things out.


13 posted on 08/16/2020 1:29:10 PM PDT by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: SaxxonWoods

“Oh, Somalia. I thought it sounded like England.”

Then it would have been Mogadishire.


14 posted on 08/16/2020 1:47:24 PM PDT by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest)
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To: PLMerite

Well done.


15 posted on 08/16/2020 1:53:39 PM PDT by SE Mom (Screaming Eagle mom)
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To: BenLurkin

Islam is to peace like democrats are to decency.


16 posted on 08/16/2020 1:54:36 PM PDT by null and void (Quarantine the sick. Shield the vulnerable. Free everyone else!)
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To: BenLurkin

I always plan my summer vacation for the last week in August. I’ve heard that Mogadishu is lovely at this time of year but I fear that my timing might not be as great as I previously hoped. Should I cancel?

/s/ Who the hell would vacation in Somalia? Even Ilhan Omar fled this eternal shit hole!


17 posted on 08/16/2020 2:15:48 PM PDT by JerseyDvl ("If you're going through hell, keep going.")
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To: JerseyDvl

She should go back. Her country needs her!


18 posted on 08/16/2020 2:21:12 PM PDT by null and void (Quarantine the sick. Shield the vulnerable. Free everyone else!)
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To: BenLurkin

They have Hotels in Somalia?
You can cancel my reservation.


19 posted on 08/16/2020 2:30:49 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: BenLurkin
Ahh, yes. Nothing quite says "weekend getaway" and "downtime" like a couple's weekend in Mogadishu at the "Elite Hotel" on "Lido Beach".
 
20 posted on 08/16/2020 2:33:17 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (Guide me, O thou great redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land.)
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