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A smoke escapes from the scene of an explosion in Mogadishu, Somalia, on November 9, 2018. REUTERS / Feisal Omar
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Gunmen set fire to two car bombs in a hotel near the Somali Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in Mogadishu, killing at least 17 people, police said.
Hotel guards Sahafi and CID agents opened fire after the blasts, the police added. About 20 minutes later, a third explosion hit a busy street, witnesses said.
"Until now, we have confirmed the death of 17 civilians. They were traveling in public vehicles on the scene when the explosions and shooting took place. The death toll will certainly increase, "Ali Nur, a police officer in the city, told Reuters.
A photographer from the Reuters agency present at the scene saw 20 bodies of civilians and several shells of minibuses, motorcycles and private sedans burned.
Mohammed Hussein, another police officer, had previously told Reuters that the target of this attack was the Sahafi Hotel, located right across from the CID office.
No group immediately claimed responsibility, but al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab Islamists staged regular attacks in the capital.
Report by Abdi Sheikh; Written by Duncan Miriri; Edited by Andrew Heavens, William Maclean
