Mogadishu, Somalia - Authorities in Somalia ended a deadly siege on Sunday which killed at least 20 people and left many others wounded after gunmen stormed Mogadishu’s Hayat Hotel in the capital.

Police commissioner Abdi Hassan Hijar told reporters that the siege ended around midnight.

“During the attack, the security forces rescued many civilians trapped in the hotel, including women and children,” he said.

The siege which saw Somali forces holding on for more than 30 hours to contain the fighters who had stormed the Hotel on Friday evening in an assault that started with loud explosions.

A detailed explanation of how the attack unfolded is yet to be confirmed by the Police. It also remains unclear as to how many gunmen entered the hotel.

Ismail Abdi, the hotel’s manager, told The Associated Press that security forces were still working to clear the area. However no more gunfire was heard after 9 a.m. local time.

The Islamic extremist group al-Shabab, who has ties with al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack, the latest of the extremists’ frequent attempts to strike places visited by government officials.

The current attack is the first major terror incident in Mogadishu since Somalia’s new leader, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, came to power in May.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the U.N. supports the people of Somalia” in their fight against terrorism and their march towards peace.” as said by a spokesman.
-AP