Somali capital rocked as car bomb targets popular hotel

A car bomb went off on Saturday in central Mogadishu near a hotel popular with government officials and businessmen, police and witnesses said. “There was a car bomb explosion near the rear gate of the Maka Al Mukarama hotel. It seems that the car was parked there loaded with explosives but we are still investigating casualties”, Mohamed Mire, a police officer told AFP. Witnesses told AFP of casualties being carried from the scene of the blast, but it was not clear if they were injured or dead. Police confirmed at least one person was injured in the blast, which appeared to target hotel, which is popular with government officials and businessmen who have returned home after years abroad. The area around the hotel has been targeted several times in the recent past and the hotel itself was hit by a car bombing in November 2013 that left several people dead.