Twin bombings targeting a hotel near the Somali presidential palace in Mogadishu on Friday killed about 20 people, including at least two politicians, a security official said.
The dead included lawmaker Omar Ali Nur and Mogadishu deputy mayor Mohamed Adan Gulled Aano-geel, Mohamed Hassan told dpa.
Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omar Arte was inside the hotel, but he was not harmed, according to security officials.
More politicians and security officials are feared to be among the dead and injured.
"A car laden with explosives which was parked inside the hotel exploded," Hassan said, adding it was activated by remote control.
The car bombing was followed by a suicide bombing attack.
A spokesman for Islamist group al-Shabaab told pro-insurgent radio Andalus that it had carried out the attacks.
Mogadishu twin bombings kills 20
Twin bombings targeting a hotel near the Somali presidential palace in Mogadishu on Friday killed about 20 people, including at least two politicians, a security official said.
The dead included lawmaker Omar Ali Nur and Mogadishu deputy mayor Mohamed Adan Gulled Aano-geel, Mohamed Hassan told dpa.
Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omar Arte was inside the hotel, but he was not harmed, according to security officials.
More politicians and security officials are feared to be among the dead and injured.
"A car laden with explosives which was parked inside the hotel exploded," Hassan said, adding it was activated by remote control.
The car bombing was followed by a suicide bombing attack.
A spokesman for Islamist group al-Shabaab told pro-insurgent radio Andalus that it had carried out the attacks.