Two Kenyan nationals working at the Hotel Maka al Mukarama as waiters were confirmed among those killed by Al-Shabab attackers who raided the hotel on Friday afternoon and continued to hold hostages until Saturday morning, Somaliupdate reports.
According to Col. Ahmed Wali, Somalia National Security, the bodies of the two Kenyan waiters were recovered on Saturday morning after the U.S.-trained Somali forces Alpha Group and AMISOM helicopters managed to secure the hotel and end the 16 hours siege.  Th two Kenyans were shot at the heads by the terrorist attackers.
A third Kenyan cooker working for the hotel was rescued early on Saturday from his room where he managed to hide until Friday afternoon. Also the security forces rescued a dozen of hotel guests among them diaspora members.
Somalia security officials say, the attack on Maka Al Mukarama hotel in Mogadishu by Al Shabab has now ended after 16 hours siege as the death toll rises to 20 including senior Somali diplomat Yusuf Baribari and security officials, Somaliupdate reports.
SIEGE ENDED
The Spokesman of Somalia Police Force Col. Qasim Roble said the security forces managed to enter the hotel on early hours on Saturday following an overnight gun battle between the security forces and armed men of Al-Shabab who raided this popular hotel on Friday afternoon.
“The security forces are now clearing the inside rooms to diffuse if the terrorists left bombs. We will soon announce the situation as calm.”he added.
Earlier on Saturday morning, AMISOM helicopters were see flying over the capital city as they were heading to the direction of the raided hotel. No civilians were allowed to go to the area as the only main road of Maka al Mukarama was blocked since Friday afternoon when the siege begun.
On its website, the militant group Al Shabab claimed the responsibility of the attack. The group’s spokesman Ali Dhere said they have killed more than 30.
-somaliupdate.com
