At least 14 people were killed in an explosion outside a busy hotel in Somalia’s capital on Thursday that was followed by gunfire, police and rescue services said. Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants claimed responsibility. The group carries out frequent bombings and other attacks in Mogadishu in a campaign to topple Somalia’s Western-backed federal government. “The blast killed 14 people,” Abdiasis Ali Ibrahim, the spokesman for the internal security minister told Radio Mogadishu, which is run by the state. Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of Amin ambulances, had earlier said 22 people were injured in the blast. Published in Daily Times, March 23rd 2018.