James Archibald / Cape Town, June 2 () - More than 10 people, including two members of the Somali Parliament, were killed in an attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, late yesterday afternoon.

The African Union Special Mission to Somalis (Amisom) issued a statement condemning the attack, saying that a vehicle laden with explosives was detonated outside the Ambassador Hotel followed by three armed militants stormed the building.

One of the attackers was killed before reaching the entrance, while the other two went into the building and began shooting hotel residents.

Responsibility for the attack was taken by Al Shabaab, an Islamic militant group in open conflict with the Federal Government of Somalia and Amisom forces stationed in the country.

The death toll was not immediately clear, with Amisom putting as “more than 10”, while one witness tweeted that he had counted 17 bodies at the scene of the attack. The two MPs have been identified as Abdullahi Kaboweyne & Mohamud Gure.

Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira said, “The attack targeting government ministers, politicians and innocent citizens once again clearly shows that Al Shabaab militants have neither regard for the sanctity of human life nor respect for human rights in their selfish and cowardly acts.”