Police in Mogadishu, Somalia, say at least 15 people were killed and over a dozen were injured when extremists detonated a car bomb near a hotel and gunmen entered the premises.
Al-Shabab, Islamic terrorists allied with al Qaeda, have claimed responsibility for the Sunday attack at the Elite Hotel.
Col. Ahmed Aden, a Somali police officer, told the Associated Press that the explosion blew off the security gate to the hotel. He said that gunmen then ran into the building and took hostages. So far, two of the attackers have been shot dead.
The area experienced a power outage due to the attack. The conflict signaled the end of a period of relative quiet in the region, which experienced several bomb attacks earlier this year.
