A DEADLY attack on a hotel in Somalia’s capital ended early today after 30 hours, leaving at least 21 people dead and dozens more wounded.

Gunmen stormed Mogadishu’s Hayat Hotel on Friday evening after setting off explosions nearby.

Police did not immediately explain how the events unfolded and it remains unclear how many attackers entered the hotel.

Islamist extremist group al-Shabab, which has ties to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the attack, its latest in frequent bids to strike sites visited by government officials.

A website affiliated to the group said that fighters were “carrying out random shootings” soon after the bombs went off.

Police chief Abdi Hassan Hijar said the siege ended at about midnight on Saturday night. “The security forces rescued many civilians trapped in the hotel, including women and children,” he said.

Health Minister Dr Ali Haji Adam reported 21 deaths and 117 people wounded, with at least 15 in a critical condition. He added that some victims may not have been brought to hospitals and the death toll could rise as there was the possibility that family members collected the bodies of their relatives before an official count was made.

Security forces were still working to clear the area this morning, but the sound of gunfire had stopped by 9am.

The hotel has been largely destroyed in the intense fighting between the extremists and security forces over the weekend.

The attack was the first major terrorist incident in the Somali capital since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office in May.

Al-Shabab is opposed to the government and is one of the most lethal extremist groups in Africa.

Previous president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed avoided any major confrontation with the group, but Mr Mohamud has vowed that his government will take the offensive against it, with the backing of returning US forces.

Al-Shabab said that the hotel attack was a response to the president’s claim that he would eliminate the group from Somalia.

The group controls a large portion of southern and central Somalia but has been unable to gain influence in the capital.

Affiliated fighters have also targeted sites along the country’s border with Ethiopia in recent weeks.

United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres condemned the hotel attack, saying that the world body supports the people of Somalia “in their fight against terrorism and their march towards peace.”