In a fierce attack on the Qahira Hotel in Beledweyne, Somalia, armed gunmen affiliated with al-Shabab initiated hostilities, resulting in multiple fatalities and an ongoing security crisis as efforts to neutralize the threat unfold.
Al-Shabab Launches Deadly Assault on Hotel in Beledweyne, Somalia
Al-Shabab Launches Deadly Assault on Hotel in Beledweyne, Somalia
A siege continues at the Qahira Hotel as security forces confront armed assailants linked to al-Shabab.
Armed militants from the al-Shabab group have launched an aggressive assault on the Qahira Hotel in Beledweyne, located in central Somalia. The attack commenced with a powerful car bomb explosion, which was followed by gunmen storming the establishment. Eyewitness accounts reveal that intense clashes are ongoing between the attackers and security forces.
Initial police reports indicated a death toll of at least four; however, local witnesses claim that the number has since risen to ten, with the situation still fluid as security personnel engage the gunmen within the confines of the hotel. Al-Shabab, which has connections to al-Qaeda, has been conducting a violent insurgency in Somalia for over two decades, specifically targeting strategic locations like Beledweyne, which is approximately 335 kilometers north of Mogadishu, the capital.
The attack coincided with a gathering of politicians, security officials, and traditional elders who were outlining strategies to mount an offensive against al-Shabab in central Somalia. Reports from police officer Ali Mahad suggest that while many attendees were rescued, several gunmen remain cornered inside the hotel.
Federal lawmaker Dahir Amin Jesow indicated that about seven gunmen are involved in the siege and expressed the need for reinforcements equipped with heavy weaponry to address the escalating threat. Eyewitness Ali Suleiman recounted the attack, describing how the initial blast was soon followed by a flurry of gunfire and subsequent explosions, which left parts of the hotel in ruins.
Currently, it remains uncertain how many individuals have sustained injuries during the siege; however, plans are in motion to arrange air transport for victims requiring medical treatment in Mogadishu.
