21 Dead In Somalia Hotel Attack

Logan Antio

AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh

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On Friday Evening of August 19, 2022, a 30-hour-long siege in the Hayat Hotel of Mogadishu Somalia took place leaving 21 dead and over 110 injured. The death toll may be even higher with the chance that people collected the bodies of their deceased loved ones. This attack on the Somalian capital of Mogadishu was led by a group of Islamic extremists known as al-Shabab, who potentially have ties with al-Qaeda. This strike was led by them because of their views on the federal government along with the election of Somalia’s new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

It was not until Sunday, August 21, 2022, that Somali forces managed to end the attack. The siege started with the attackers using explosive devices at the front gate, and barriers to gain access to the building. They also used two car bombs. Once the terrorist group had gained control of the hotel, the attackers and Somalian forces were engaged in intense firefights. The upper level of the hotel remained under the control of the attackers for hours as the number of hostages was unknown, as well as the stairs going up were destroyed. In the event of the attack, the hotel was severely damaged due to explosions and heavy gunfire, collapsing some parts of the hotel. Witnesses had also reported flames were coming from the roof of the hotel.