At Least 19 Killed After Mogadishu Siege Ends, Five Gunmen Dead

Bursts of gunfire followed the attack, which targeted Posh Hotel – the only venue with a discotheque in the capital

• 19 people were killed in a suicide bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia
  
• Gunmen stormed into a restaurant following the suicide bombing, holding 20 hostage
  
• Five gunmen believed to have been killed
• The attack has been claimed by militant Islamist group al Shabaab

A Separate Attack Later in the Day

In a separate incident later in the day, at least two soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb, planted by the Islamist militant group al Shabaab, struck a car carrying government troops in Central Shabelle outside of the capital, the military said.

At Least 19 Killed in Siege

At least 19 people have been killed in the attack on the hotel and the restaurant in Mogadishu, police officials told Reuters. They also confirmed that the siege has officially ended.

Five of the gunmen were killed.

Abdi Bashir, police official to Reuters

The Associate Press, however, reported 31 killed in the overnight siege.

All Gunmen Killed: Local News

All the gunmen in the Mogadishu siege have been killed, an official told VOA Somali.

BREAKING: Security forces ended Al-Shabab siege in Mogadishu restaurant: official tells @voasomali

— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) June 15, 2017

The siege lasted 10 hours, and the surrounding area has been cordoned off by the police for investigation, according to local reports.

Pizza House siege officially ended after all gunmen killed. Police have cordoned off z area for investigation. Attack lasted 10 hrs #Somalia

— Abdulaziz Billow Ali (@AbdulBillowAli) June 15, 2017

Gunmen Posed as Military Men

The gunmen who held people hostage in the restaurant were allegedly dressed in military uniforms.

They forced those fleeing the site to go inside the restaurant. 

An eye witness to AP