DHAKA: At least 15 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a coordinated gun-and-bomb attack carried out by al-Shabab at a popular hotel in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, according to officials.

The assault on Wednesday (January 25) morning began when attackers rammed an explosives-packed car into the gate of Dayah Hotel, which is near Somalia's parliament in central Mogadishu, and then stormed inside exchanging fire with security guards, reports Al-jazeera.

A second massive car bomb blast went off after ambulances and journalists had arrived at the scene, leaving at least four reporters wounded.

“The preliminary casualty figure is 15 people dead including four security forces and 11 civilians,” Security Minister Abdirizak Umar told reporters at the scene.

“Fifty-one others were wounded in the two blasts at the hotel.”

Witnesses said the powerful explosions caused extensive damage in the area near the hotel, shattering dozens of windows and damaging parked cars. 

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a report by Andalus radio, which is linked to the armed group.

Dozens of people, including members of Somalia's parliament, were thought to have been in the hotel at the time of the attack, Captain Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press news agency.

The hotel is popular with politicians, government officials and entrepreneurs.

Al-Shabab has carried out a series of deadly attacks in Somalia to try to topple the country's western-backed government.

In June, the group claimed responsibility for an attack on the Nasa Hablod hotel, which killed at least 15 people.

BDST: 1815 HRS, JAN 25, 2017
AP