The assault began with explosions exterior the resort earlier than gunmen entered the constructing.
Gunfire may nonetheless be heard early Saturday as safety forces tried to comprise the final gunmen, who have been considered holed up within the resort. It was unclear what number of militants remained on the resort’s high flooring.
The Islamic extremist group al-Shabab claimed duty for the assault, the newest of its frequent makes an attempt to strike locations which might be usually visited by authorities officers.
There was no speedy phrase on the identities of the victims.
“We have been having tea close to the resort foyer once we heard the primary blast adopted by gunfire. I instantly rushed towards resort rooms on the bottom flooring, and I locked,” eyewitness Abdullahi Hussein advised the AP by telephone. “The militants went straight upstairs and began taking pictures. I used to be contained in the room till the safety forces arrived and rescued me.”
He stated that on his strategy to security he noticed “a number of our bodies mendacity on the bottom exterior resort reception.”
