The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received information that Norwegian citizens have been killed in the terrorist attack on Hotel Hayat in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. This is confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to news. – We are also investigating whether Norwegian citizens may have been injured in the attack, says communications adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ragnhild Håland Simenstad. Due to local conditions, it will take time to get the information confirmed, she says. – The security situation in Somalia is demanding. We have very limited opportunities to help Norwegian citizens in Somalia. One of the mosques in Oslo confirms to VG that there are two men who have been killed, and that they were members of their mosque. It was VG who first mentioned the report that Norwegian citizens could be victims. EXPLOSION: The attack is said to have started with two car bombs being detonated outside the hotel. The building was then occupied by several armed warriors from the military group. On Saturday night, in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, the Islamist group Al-Shabaab attacked the luxury hotel Hayat. It took over 30 hours for the Somali police and military to gain control of the situation. 21 people killed So far 21 people have been confirmed killed. 117 people are said to be injured, says Somalia’s Minister of Health Ali Haji Adan. Security forces rescued 106 people from the hotel, among them women and children. The last attackers were defeated around midnight on Sunday night. – Most of those who were killed and wounded were hit in the first hours of the attack. After that, the security forces spent time rescuing people individually, room by room, says Abdi Hassan Mohammed Hijar of the Mogadishu police. PATROLS: Security forces patrol near the destroyed hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia after the deadly attack. Photo: HASSAN ALI ELMI / AFP Somali authorities have so far not said anything about how many Al-Shabaab fighters participated in the attack or how many Al-Shabaab fighters have been killed. – This is a typical Al-Shabaab attack in many ways. It has gone on a little longer than average, but the group likes to attack hotels. Separate hotel frequented by members of the government. It was here. So says Stig Jarle Hansen, professor of international relations at NMBU. Marking for new government The new government in Somalia has said that they will crack down hard on Al-Shabaab. Stig Jarle Hansen believes that the attack can be seen as a response to that. – At the same time, the message from the Somali government was twofold. They said that they would crack down hard on and intensify the fight, but that they did not rule out negotiations at a later date, explains Hansen. THE HOTEL: The picture shows what it looked like outside the luxury hotel Hayat after the attack. Photo: HASSAN ALI ELMI / AFP He thinks Al-Shabaab sees it as important to make a mark now, in the period just after a new government has come into place in the country. – It is also very important for Al-Shabaab to stand out against the new minister of religion in the government, he adds. The Minister of Religion, Mukhtar Robow, is a defector from Al-Shabaab. – This was seen as a big loss for Al-Shabaab. On the other hand, it was seen as a great victory because he was so prominent in the group, says Hansen. MINISTER OF RELIGION: The new minister of religion in Somalia, Mukhtar Robow, is a former member of Al-Shabaab. Photo: FEISAL OMAR / Reuters – Does this mean that more attacks can be expected? – Yes, I think so. Especially in Mogadishu, I think you can expect more, but I also think Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya would be wise to keep a close eye on what happens. And for Ethiopia this is particularly challenging as they are in a civil war. Hansen believes it is important to ensure the safety of the local population in Somalia. The international community has largely failed there, he says. SOMALIA EXPERT: Stig Jarle Hansen, professor of international relations at NMBU. Photo: news – There are only two ways to solve this. One is to set up a structure that provides security to the population of Somalia. The second is negotiations. There are no other ways to solve this, believes the Somalia expert.
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