Al Shabaab militants launched an attack at a hotel in Mogadishu on Sunday.
Villa Rose Hotel which is mainly frequented by Ministers, lawmakers, and Senior advisors is located near the National Theatre and the notorious Godka Jili´ow .
Police Spokesperson Sadaq Dodishe who spoke to the State news agency SONNA said scores including civilians and officials were rescued.
Those evacuated include the state Minister of Environment, Interior Security and Fisheries at the Villa Rose Hotel.
Reports suggest the Interior Security minister Mohamed Dodishe was rescued with wounds from the explosion.
Details of the casualties remain scanty.
Al-Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility for the attack saying they targeted a gathering of officials. The group says its fighters are now fighting inside the palace.
The attack is the second major terrorist attack at the Mogadishu hotel in two months.
The attack comes less than a month over 120 people were killed and 300 others wounded in two car bomb explosions in the capital Mogadishu by the Al-Shabaab group.
Al-Qaeda-allied al-Shabab, which has been fighting in Somalia for more than a decade, is seeking to topple the central government and establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
The group uses a campaign of bombings both in Somalia and elsewhere, and targets have included military installations as well as hotels, shopping centres, and busy traffic areas.
The story is developing.
