A car bomb exploded in the area near Nasahablod Two hotel minutes after a car rigged with explosives detonated there, killing at least ten people and injuring 15 more.
Mohamed Hussein, a local police officer, said to Reuters that armed militants stormed the hotel building after the first explosion, opening fire inside. He suggested that the death toll will likely grow.
Initially, the social media users started posting pictures of plumes of smoke rising into the air in Mogadishu. Witnesses were saying that a "huge blast" occurred in the city.
BREAKING: Wounded people people being evacuated from outside Hotel Nasa Hablod 2 and Banoda restaurant: witnesses
— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) 28 октября 2017 г.
heard big explosion in Mogadishu ~ May Allah safe this city pic.twitter.com/cIXofrFZW6
— Cadnaan (@Engrcadnan) 28 октября 2017 г.
Smoke seen billowing not far from the Presidential Palace in #Mogadishu. #Somalia. pic.twitter.com/ElQpgOI1bu
— Abdulaziz Billow Ali (@AbdulBillowAli) 28 октября 2017 г.
This is the smoke pic.twitter.com/frEFfeugXY
— Mogadishu Update (@Mogadishuupdate) 28 октября 2017 г.
Smoke rising after explosions #Mogadishu pic.twitter.com/fH3umEuKy6
— latif (@Latifhaji786) 28 октября 2017 г.
BREAKING: Explosion just heard in Mogadishu. #Somalia
— Rage M Shahiid (@adam_rage) 28 октября 2017 г.
Not far from the presidential palace.
Hope no 1 get hurt.. pic.twitter.com/tYJuyxNyQX
Update: huge explosion followed by heavy gunfire targeted popular Hotel Nasahablood2 near presidential place in #Mogadishu. #Somalia pic.twitter.com/ZS9LcRFQOL
— Omar Kiyow (@OmarKiyow) 28 октября 2017 г.
Explosion in #Mogadishu pic.twitter.com/jlUgsTlzj7
— Liban Abdi Ali (@LibanAbdiAli) 28 октября 2017 г.
Smoke seen billowing not far from the Presidential Palace in #Mogadishu. #Somalia. pic.twitter.com/ElQpgOI1bu
— Abdulaziz Billow Ali (@AbdulBillowAli) 28 октября 2017 г.
According to media reports, the al-Shabab terrorist group, linked to al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the act of violence. The group, which seeks to overthrow Somalia's government and impose Sharia law in the country, carries out attacks there occasionally. The group's latest bomb attack resulted in 358 deaths earlier in October.