[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Members of the Islamist extremist armed group Al-Shabaab, who carried out a hostage situation at a hotel in downtown Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, were subdued by military authorities after 30 hours.
On the 21st (local time), according to major foreign media, Mohamed Ali, a Somali military officer, announced that the hostage situation involving Al-Shabaab members taking over the Mogadishu Hyatt Hotel had ended, and bomb disposal operations were underway in the hotel building.
He stated, "Explosions occurred in multiple plastic bags scattered throughout the hotel," and added that investigations regarding the explosions are still ongoing.
AFP also reported, citing a military commander, that the armed militants who had taken over the hotel were killed.
However, local police official Yasin Haji told CNN, "It took more than 24 hours to suppress the terrorists because they used civilian hostages as human shields," adding, "The terrorists were eliminated on the first and top floors, but some still remain on two middle floors."
The casualty figures vary somewhat. CNN, citing police officials, reported at least 20 deaths and at least 50 injuries. AFP reported the death toll as at least 13.
The Mogadishu Hyatt Hotel is a three-story building frequented mainly by high-ranking government officials, lawmakers, and foreigners. On the 19th, multiple armed militants stormed the hotel, firing heavy weapons and taking guests hostage. Before storming the hotel, they also detonated two vehicles.
Subsequently, Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack. The Somali military deployed special forces and attempted to suppress the armed militants by firing heavy weapons at the hotel.
This attack is the first large-scale terrorist incident in Somalia since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office in May. Al-Shabaab, an armed group linked to Al-Qaeda, has been attempting to overthrow the Somali government for over 10 years, aiming to establish a government that strictly enforces Islamic law (Sharia).
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