Incident Summary:

08/30/2016: A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle outside the SYL Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia. The assailant was targeting a meeting of security officials at the hotel. In addition to the bomber, at least 22 people were killed and 50 others were injured in the blast; the victims included Somali Armed Forces (SAF) officials, government officials, journalists, and civilians. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

GTD ID:
201608300005

When:
2016-08-30

Country:
Somalia

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Banaadir

City:
Mogadishu

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Business
Name of Entity Somali Youth League (SYL) Hotel
Specific Description Hotel
Nationality of Target Somalia
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity Government of Somalia
Specific Description Officials
Nationality of Target Somalia
Target Type: Military
Name of Entity Somali Armed Forces (SAF)
Specific Description Officials
Nationality of Target Somalia
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Vehicle
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?Yes
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Casualty numbers conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the most recent reliable estimates are reported here.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Al-Shabaab Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: E-mail)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 23 Fatalities / 50 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 23
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 1
Total Number of Injured 50
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Death toll in Somalia's suicide bombing rises to 22," Al Jazeera, August 31, 2016.
"UPDATE 1-Death toll from Shabaab attack on Mogadishu hotels rises to 22 - police," Reuters Africa, August 31, 2016.
"Somalia: Suicide car bomb targets hotel close to presidential palace, say officials," Indian Express, August 30, 2016.