Off the wire
• Liu continues Zhuhai Classic reign with playoff win  • Urgent: Huge turnout of electorate as voting begins in Nigeria presidential election  • Chinese universities urged to adhere to socialism  • Nigeria's election accreditation kicks off amidst large turn-out  • Urgent: Yemeni president flies to Saudi with Saudi king: Yemeni FM  • China welcomes Netherlands, Brazil, Georgia to AIIB  • Chinese FM heads for meeting over Iran nuke issue in Switzerland  • China expects new era in figure skating  • Fitch ratings agency maintains Portugal outlook at BB+  • CPC discipline chief says discipline stricter than law  
You are here: 　 Home

14 killed, over 50 saved in Somali hotel attack: official

Xinhua, March 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

More than 14 people were killed during an Al-Shabaab attack and siege at Maka AlMukarama hotel in Somali capital Mogadishu Friday, which lasted for more than 16 hours, a government official said on Saturday.

"We can officially confirm that over 14 people died in the attack, including four security officials and Somali ambassador to Switzerland, Yusu Bari Bari, and a lady consultant for the ministry of finance. Dozens of others were injured and are receiving treatment various hospitals in the city," said Somali Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir.

Hayir said there were over 70 people, including government officials, attending separate meetings at the time of the attack, and about 50 people were rescued.

One group, the minister said was a team of doctors holding meetings in the hotel while the other was government officials from the ministry of commerce.

"I call upon all Somali people to work with the security forces to ensure the lives of innocent people are protected," Hayir said.

The attack comes barely a month after Al-Shabaab launched similar multiple explosions at Central Hotel in Mogadishu, which also harboured a mosque, killing 28 people and wounded over 50 others including senior government officials. Endi