Somali Al Shebab suicide commandos attack newly captured town

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Al Qaeda linked Al Shebab attacked a hotel crowded with army officers in a southern town days after African Union troops celebrated its capture from the Islamists, security officials said Tuesday.

A suicide bomber rammed a car packed full of explosives into the hotel, with gunmen then attacking, killing at least eight people, residents said.

The attack is the latest by the Shebab, launched in apparent retaliation to a new offensive to root them out of the troubled country.

Troops from neighbouring countries, which also face attacks on their own soil, are also fighting Al Shebab in Somalia.

“There was a suicide attack involving terrorists at a hotel in Buulo Burde,” security official Sulieman Adam told AFP, of the attack that took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“Four of the attackers were also killed,” he added.

AU envoy to Somalia, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, condemned the “cowardly attack” and confirmed that both AU troops from Djibouti and Somali troops had been killed, but without giving exact numbers.

AU soldiers, who are fighting Al Shebab alongside Somali government troops, captured the small town from the Islamists last week.

Shebab spokesman Abdiaziz Abu Musab claimed responsibility for the attack, boasting of killing senior officials and telling AFP that Al Shebab were still in control of parts of the town.

Residents said that at least eight people were killed in the attack, but there was no official toll.

“A suicide bomber drove his car packed with explosives into the hotel and there was a big explosion, and then gunfire afterwards,” said resident Moalim Mohamed Adan.

Abdirahman Qalafe, who lives in a nearby village, confirmed the toll of eight, adding he had seen a military helicopter evacuate the wounded.

“The helicopter landed and took around 11 wounded people away,” he said.

The Shebab also claimed responsibility for a car bomb on Monday targeting an AU convoy just outside the Somali capital, boasting of killing seven including three foreigners, although the AU force said there were no casualties.

“These are hit and run attacks... They are losing ground, but are trying to terrorise the people,” AU force spokesman Ali Houmed said.

The UN-backed AU force this month launched a fresh offensive against Shebab bases, with the gunmen largely fleeing ahead of the assault, only to later stage guerrilla attacks.

UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay said the offensive would be “the most significant and geographically extensive military advance” since AU troops started operations in 2007.

But Kay also warned the security situation had “deteriorated” in the last three months.

Shebab fighters once controlled most of southern and central Somalia but withdrew from fixed positions in Mogadishu two years ago.