Militants attack Mogadishu hotel

Somali security forces guard the entrance to the SYL hotel in Mogadishu, Dec 11, 2019. [AP Photo]

Al-Shabab fighters in Somalia stormed a heavily guarded hotel in downtown Mogadishu on Thursday evening, witnesses and officials said.

A resident told VOA that an explosion was detonated outside the SYL hotel. Moments later, the witness said, he heard gunfire from inside the hotel.