The Latest: 3rd blast heard in hotel attack in Mogadishu

 7:15 p.m.
Police say a third blast has been heard at the scene of an attack on a popular hotel in Somalia’s capital.
Capt. Mohamed Hussein tells The Associated Press by telephone from the scene that an attacker detonated a suicide vest.
At least 13 people are dead and more than 16 are wounded in the assault on the Nasa-Hablod hotel, which is frequented by politicians and other members of Mogadishu’s elite.
The al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility and says its fighters are still inside the hotel.

___
6 p.m.
Police say the death toll in a suicide car bombing outside a popular hotel in Somalia’s capital has risen to 13, with more than 16 people wounded.
Capt. Mohamed Hussein says a senior Somali police colonel and a former lawmaker are among the dead.
The al-Shabab extremist group has quickly claimed responsibility for the suicide car bomb that detonated outside the Nasa-Hablod hotel, which is frequented by politicians and other members of Mogadishu’s elite.
Al-Shabab also claims that its fighters are inside the hotel, where gunfire can still be heard.
___
6:45 p.m.
Police say at least 10 people are dead and more than 11 are wounded in an attack on a popular hotel in Somalia’s capital. Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the death toll could rise.
The al-Shabab extremist group has quickly claimed responsibility for the suicide car bomb that detonated outside the Nasa-Hablod hotel, which is frequented by politicians and other members of Mogadishu’s elite.
Al-Shabab also claims that its fighters are inside the hotel, where gunfire can still be heard.
The blast comes two weeks after more than 350 people were killed in a massive truck bombing on a busy Mogadishu street in the country’s worst-ever attack.
___
6:30 p.m.
The al-Shabab extremist group has quickly claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb that detonated outside a popular hotel in Somalia’s capital.
Police say at least two people are dead and more than eight others wounded in Saturday afternoon’s blast outside the Nasa-Hablod hotel, which is frequented by politicians and other members of Mogadishu’s elite.
Al-Shabab also claims that its fighters are inside the hotel, where gunfire can still be heard.
The blast comes two weeks after more than 350 people were killed in a massive truck bombing on a busy Mogadishu street in the country’s worst-ever attack.
___
5:55 p.m.
A police officer says at least two people are dead and more than eight others are wounded after a suspected suicide car bomb detonated outside a hotel in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
Capt. Mohamed Hussein says gunfire can be heard inside the Nasa-Hablod hotel, which is frequented by politicians and other members of the city’s elite.
A second blast was heard in the area minutes after the first.
Saturday’s blast comes two weeks after more than 350 people were killed in a massive truck bombing on a busy Mogadishu street in the country’s worst-ever attack.
___
5:35 p.m.
A Somali police officer says a suspected suicide car bomb has detonated near the gate of a hotel close to the presidential palace in Mogadishu.
Capt. Mohamed Hussein says gunfire could be heard inside the Nasa-Hablod hotel.
Saturday’s blast in Somalia’s capital comes two weeks after more than 350 people were killed in a massive truck bombing on a busy Mogadishu street in the country’s worst-ever attack.
The extremist group al-Shabab often targets high-profile areas of Mogadishu.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.