MOGADISHU (SD) – Somali security forces battled militants for more than ten hours Sunday before ending an attack and siege of Afrik hotel in Mogadishu.

Sadik Adan Ali, Somali police spokesperson who confirmed the conclusion of the operation in the hotel said dozens of people were rescued during the operation by the security forces.

“The reason why it took long time to complete the operation, was to rescue those who were trapped inside the hotel before neutralising the militants,” the police spokesperson said.

The official said about 9 people among them the assailants were killed in the attack.

Among those killed in the attack was Gen Mohamed Nur Galal, a well known army general.

“The militants were four in number, one of them blew himself up at the entrance of the hotel before the attack started Sunday evening. The rest holed up in the hotel but were later eliminated by the security forces. Five civilians were also killed in the attack,” he said.

The spokesperson also confirmed injuries of over ten people who were ferried to different hospitals in the capital.

Ambulance services earlier reported evacuating nearly 30 more injured victims.

Both Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble extended condolences to the families of the victims killed in the attack.

Al-Shabaab militant group on Sunday claimed the responsibility for the hotel attack.