Al-Shabab Militants Launch Hotel Siege in Beledweyne, Somalia
Beledweyne, Somalia – A major security incident is unfolding in Beledweyne, central Somalia, as armed Islamist militants have stormed the Qahira Hotel, triggering an ongoing siege, AQRI.net has learned. The attack, claimed by al-Shabab, began with a powerful car bomb explosion, followed by gunmen breaching the hotel premises and engaging in fierce clashes with Somali security forces.
Eyewitnesses and police sources on the ground report a rapidly escalating situation. Initial police reports confirmed at least four fatalities, but witness accounts relayed to the BBC suggest the death toll has tragically risen to ten. Security forces are currently locked in a battle to neutralize the gunmen who remain holed up inside the Qahira Hotel.
The al-Qaeda affiliated group, al-Shabab, has claimed responsibility for the assault, underscoring their persistent and brutal insurgency in Somalia, now spanning over two decades.
The timing of the brazen attack is particularly significant. The Qahira Hotel was reportedly hosting a meeting of key political figures, security officials, and traditional elders convened to strategize a planned offensive against al-Shabab in central Somalia.
Beledweyne, situated approximately 335km (208 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu, holds strategic importance in the ongoing campaign against the militant group.
Police Officer Ali Mahad, speaking to AFP news agency, stated that numerous attendees at the meeting have been successfully rescued. “Security forces are tackling several gunmen who are cornered in one part of the building,” he confirmed.
Federal lawmaker Dahir Amin Jesow, representing Beledweyne, told the BBC that an estimated seven gunmen are believed to be inside the hotel. He stressed the urgent need for reinforcements equipped with “heavy weaponry to neutralize the situation effectively.”
Shopkeeper Ali Suleiman, a direct witness to the attack, described scenes of devastation to Reuters news agency. “We first heard a huge blast followed by gunfire, then another blast was heard,” he recounted, noting that parts of the hotel have been reduced to rubble amidst the intense exchange of fire.
While the precise number of wounded remains unclear, the federal lawmaker indicated that efforts are underway to arrange medical evacuations to Mogadishu for those critically injured in the attack.
AQRI.net is continuing to monitor this developing situation closely and will provide updates as they become available.
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