Somalia extremist attack in port city of Kismayo kills 10

A Somali official says at least 10 people have been killed in an extremist attack on a hotel in the port city of Kismayo.

Abdi Ahmed, a local district official, told The Associated Press Friday night that the death toll may rise as fighting is continuing inside the Asasey Hotel between the extremist gunmen and security forces. He said gunfire is continuing inside the hotel.

He said most of the victims were patrons of the hotel, which is often frequented by lawmakers and local officials. He said the victims include two journalists. One of the victims was Somali-Canadian journalist Hodan Nalayeh, who once resided in Vaughan, Ontario, Mogadishu-based Radio Dalsan told CBC News. Nalayeh was the founder and host of Integration TV on OMNI TV.

Somalia's al-Shabab Islamic extremist rebels have claimed the responsibility for the attack.

The attack started with a suicide car bomb blast and then gunmen stormed into the hotel.