Dozens are killed after suicide lorry bomb explodes outside hotel in Somalia's capital

A suicide lorry bomb exploded outside a popular hotel in Somalia's capital, killing at least 23 people and wounding more than 30.

Gunfire continued as security forces pursued other attackers inside the building with two more blasts heard at the scene.

Captain Mohamed Hussein said more than 20 people, including government officials, were thought to be trapped as the extremists holed up on the top floor of the Nasa-Hablod hotel, close to the presidential palace.

Three of the five attackers were killed while the others hurled grenades and cut off the building's electricity supply.

Saturday's blasts came two weeks after more than 350 people were killed in a massive truck bombing on a busy Mogadishu street in the country's worst-ever attack. 

Al-Shabaab, Africa's deadliest Islamic extremist group, quickly claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack and said its fighters were inside the hotel.

Among the dead were a mother and three children, including a baby, all shot in the head, Capt Hussein said.

Other victims included a senior Somali police colonel, a former lawmaker and a former government minister.

Footage from the scene showed twisted vehicles and nearby buildings with only walls left standing.