Suicide bomber targets hotel across from presidential palace in Mogadishu

Gunmen have forced their way into a hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, a police official said.

A suicide bomber rammed his car into the SYL hotel's entrance and then gunmen entered the premises after an exchange of gunfire with hotel guards, captain Mohamed Hussein said.

Shootout as Shabaab bombs Mogadishu Hotel, storms building | eNCA https://t.co/GG0HzA1RJs pic.twitter.com/PoQxUFJvHJ

— eNCA (@eNCA) February 26, 2016

The SYL hotel, which is located across from the presidential palace in Mogadishu, is frequented by government officials and business executives.

The Islamic extremist al-Shabab group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Despite being pushed out of Somalia's major cities and towns, al-Shabab continues to launch deadly guerrilla attacks across the Horn of Africa, and even across the border.

Al-Shabab has carried out attacks on three of the five countries contributing troops to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

The al Qaida-linked group has carried out many deadly attacks inside Kenya as well, including one in 2013 on the Westgate Mall in the capital Nairobi in which 67 people were killed.