Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has denounced the terrorist attack on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Sunday, killing at least 16 people and injuring scores.

In a statement, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign affairs expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist attack that targeted a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which resulted in deaths and injuries.

“The ministry reaffirms its position rejecting all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and extend its condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Somalia and wishing a speedy recovery for the wounded,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has also strongly condemned the terrorist attack.

In a statement on Monday, the OIC Secretary-General Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen affirmed that the OIC stands in full support of and solidarity with Somalia in its battle against terrorism, reaffirming the organization’s outright rejection of terrorism, violence, and extremism in all their forms and manifestations.

He offered his condolences to the families of the victims, the government and people of Somalia, wishing the wounded speedy recovery.

According to the Somali government spokesman, Al-Shabaab militants stormed the high-end Elite Hotel in Lido beach, detonated a car bomb and then opened fire with assault rifles on Sunday.

The hotel is owned by Abdullahi Mohamed Nor, a lawmaker and former finance minister, and is frequented by government officials and members of the Somali diaspora, according to Reuters.