At least 15 dead after Islamic gunmen storm Hayat hotel and open fire in horror siege

AT least 15 people have been killed after Islamic militants stormed a hotel in Somalia’s capital. The attackers blasted their way into the Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu on Friday evening with two car bombs before opening fire in a horror siege. EPAAt least 15 people have been killed in the siege[/caption] ReutersGunmen stormed the Hayat Hotel in Somalia[/caption] ReutersSomali security officers are seen at a section of the hotel[/caption] Somalia’s al Shabaab insurgents have claimed responsibility. It’s feared the death toll could rise as several people were injured in the attack and had to be taken to hospital as others, including kids, were rescued. The detonations sent huge plumes of smoke over the busy junction on Friday night, and the sound of gunfire still crackled across the capital by 7am on Saturday. Sounds of explosions punctuated the night as government forces tried to wrest control of the hotel back from the militants, witnesses said. Read More on The Sun BRAKING HABITS Major change could see parents not having to do the school run any more FRESH PRICE Shoppers go wild over 99p Home Bargains buy which normally costs £60 Large sections of the hotel were destroyed by the fighting, they said. Friday’s attack was the first major attack since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office in May. The al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a translation by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist group statements. Al Shabaab has been fighting to topple the Somali government for more than ten years. Most read in The Sun TELLY COP NICKED Stephen Tompkinson 'battered dad so badly he was left with skull fracture' FORTNIGHTMARE Mum reveals why you should never go on holiday for two weeks - people agree WHEELY NICE Love Island's Gemma Owen shows off dad Michael’s insane £290k car collection DUST OFF THE BBQ Exact date Bank Holiday heatwave set to start after wet and windy weekend KYMCREDIBLE Kym Marsh reveals exciting baby news just weeks before Strictly debut BRAKING HABITS Major change could see parents not having to do the school run any more It wants to establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law. The Hayat Hotel is a popular venue with lawmakers and other government officials. There was no immediate information on whether any of them had been caught up in the siege.