At least five people killed and three journalists among injured in twin explosions in Mogadishu

 

At least five people have been killed and 28 other injured in twin bomb explosion after an explosives laden vehicle hit the entrance of Dayah hotel near Somali Parliament. Casualties could rise, Goobjoog News correspondent says.

The first explosion went off at about 15 minutes past 8.00 EAT followed by a second one in an interval of around 15 minutes. Most of the casualties are reported to have died in the second explosion as emergency and rescue teams made their way into the scene.

Goobjoog News correspondent at the scene says three journalists working for international news agencies were among the injured. AFP photojournalist Farah Abdi Warsame, Mohamed Abdiwab from Turkish news agency Anadolu and another journalist named Gurey from a local radio station were injured.

Sections of the hotel have been completely destroyed including neighbouring buildings.

Our correspondent says some senior government officials among them newly elected MPs are inside the hotel.Al-Shabaab militants are still inside the hotel and a hostage crisis could be unfolding, the correspondent says. Two of the militants are firing from a house next to the hotel.

The explosion happened a day after both Houses of Parliament converged in Mogadishu to choose a Presidential Election Committee which will oversee the election of a new President.

Medical sources at Medina Hospital in Mogadishu say several people who were injured from the explosion were received at the facility.