<p>As many as 52 people were killed when attackers detonated at least two bombs and stormed a hotel in Mogadishu near the headquarters of Somalia’s Criminal Investigation Department.</p>
<p>The militant Al-Shabab organisation, which has been known for regular attacks on the capital, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they were targetting government officials who were staying at the hotel.</p>
<p>Ali Nur, a police officer in the city, told Reuters that the attackers were “traveling in public vehicles at the scene when the blasts and gunfire occurred. The death toll is sure to rise”.</p>
<p>Witnesses further stated that both CID officers and security forces in the Hotel Sahafi, after seeing the initial explosion, opened fire. 20 minutes passed and a third explosion hit a busy street.<br>
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<p>See more from Voice of America <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/somalia-mogadishu-blasts-death-toll/4653053.h…">here</a>.</p>
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