TOP STORIES: 16 Somali hotel attack suspects arrested

Trailer: About seven soldiers and 10 al-Shabaab fighters killed in dawn attack at Bousli base about 17 kilometers (11 miles) south of Mogadishu

Published: March 24, 2024 11:40a

Signed: Harun Ma’ruf, Hassan Kafi

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Somali security personnel have arrested 16 people in connection with the March 14 attack on an upscale hotel near the presidential palace in Mogadishu, the Somali government announced.

this Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency The National Intelligence and Security Service said the suspects included a man accused of being the “mastermind” of the attack.

In a statement issued by the Information Ministry, the government also accused the main suspect of helping smuggle vehicles used by al-Shabaab militants in attacks.

Also arrested were four people registered as owners of two vehicles used by the armed group in attacks. The government said it was also investigating five government security personnel stationed at the checkpoint where the attackers passed.

At around 9:15 pm local time on March 14, five al-Shabaab militants attacked the hotel after detonating a vehicle-borne explosive device outside the hotel. After several hours of fighting, the attackers were routed early the next morning.

The government did not release specific details on the timing of the arrests. No further details about the other arrested suspects were released.

“The arrests of these murderers send a message to al-Shabaab’s criminals and murderers [deviants] Information Minister Daud Aweis told VOA Somali. “This message tells them that the government and its security agencies will remain vigilant and pursue anyone who seeks to harm the public and destabilize security.”

Meanwhile, al-Shabab militants launched a deadly attack on government forces on Saturday at a military base south of Mogadishu.

The dawn attack at the Bousli base, about 17 kilometers (11 miles) south of Mogadishu, killed about seven soldiers and 10 al-Shabab fighters, according to a security official inside the camp. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to the media.

Al-Shabaab claimed to have killed 57 soldiers in the attack. The armed group often gives higher casualty figures than those published by the government. Their claims could not be independently verified.