An attack on a Mogadishu Hotel by Shabab militants has ended with the death of at least 24 people, including a Somali ambassador.

The deadly siege that happened Friday and lasted about 15 hours into the weekend claimed the lives of the Somali ambassador to Switzerland, an American woman, several hotel guests and staff, four Somali soldiers, and six militants killed by responding forces. Twenty-eight others were wounded.

Like Us on Facebook

Reports say a suicide car bomber entered the back gate of the hotel around 4 p.m. on Friday. A group of armed men then attacked the hotel guards, fired automatic rifles and took control of the hotel.

National Security Spokesperson Mohamed Yusuf says police from the country's anti-terrorism unit responded to the attack and managed to rescue several hotel guests.

One of the hotel owners, Gurey Hajji Hassan, said that around seven militants pretended to be visitors and asked him if is working with the government.

One of the survivors was Somalia's Ambassador to Germany Mohamed Tifow. He managed to escape by climbing down the ladder that was offered by the responding police forces.

"What I've seen, I never expected in my life...It was horrible," he claimed.

Witnesses say they heard a loud explosion from the back end of the hotel, followed by a series of gunfire.

"I was shocked and frightened," said witnesses Yasin Mohamed.

Other witnesses said they saw some hotel guests jumping out the windows to escape.

"I saw a man jumping out of the window of the second floor and he fell to the ground. He was immediately taken by health workers to the hospital," said Abdi Omar.

Shabab is an Islamic extremist group in Somalia that usually attacks areas where government and business sites are stationed.

In February, the group attacked the Central Hotel that resulted in the death of 25 people, including government officials.

In 2013, it attacked the West Gate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya and the compound of the United Nations in Mogadishu.

TagsMogadishu, hotel attack, Shabab