Nearly 30 Dead In Al-Shabaab Bombing In Mogadishu

At least 29 people have been killed and 80 injured in a complex assault in Mogadishu, reports the Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu).

On Thursday night, a suicide bomber set off a large car bomb in front of the Hotel Maka Al-Mukarama, destroying the facade and igniting nearby cars, reported France 24.

The hotel is popular with government officials, noted Reuters. A second explosion was later reported about a mile (0.6 km) away. 

Other militants retreated into an adjacent building and began fighting with security forces.

An elite, U.S.-trained unit called the Alpha Group was deployed to retake the building. At least two soldiers were wounded. 

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack and said it continued to control the area despite three attempts by security forces to retake it.