Deadly car bomb attacks hit Mogadishu hotels

July 10, 2015 Somalia

Somalia’s intelligence agency said on Twitter that the attack on Hotel Weheliye was brought under control [Mustaf Abdi/Al Jazeera]

(Aljazeera) — Car bombings have struck two hotels in the Somali capital Mogadishu before gunmen entered one of the hotels and started shooting, sources told Al Jazeera.

At least five people were killed at Hotel Weheliye in central Mogadishu on Friday, the sources said.

Three gunmen wearing government army uniforms entered the building as guest inside were breaking their fast, observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan.

The gunmen were believed to be holed up inside the hotel, which is owned by Somali MP Isse Weheliye, the sources said. The second hotel that was attacked is located in the same central district.

The country’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said on Twitter that both attacks were brought to an end. It was not clear, however, whether the gunmen were still inside the Weheliye Hotel.

At least 15 people were said to have been wounded in the attacks.