Police Major Hassan Dahir confirmed to CNN that a gun battle was taking place between gunmen and Somali security forces at the Hyatt Hotel in the Somalia capital, frequented by lawmakers and government officials.
Dahir said two security officials, including Mogadishu’s intelligence chief Muhyiddin Mohamed, were injured in the ongoing attack. However, the details remained unclear as the siege continued.
terrorist group linked to al Qaeda Al Shabaab In a statement posted to its affiliated online sites, it claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters managed to seize the hotel after breaking into the building. CNN has not independently confirmed this claim.
In May, US President Joe Biden decided to redeploy troops to Somalia to support the local government and counter al-Shabaab. The move reversed former President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw all US troops from the country.