A car bomb exploded at a hotel in Beledweyne, central Somalia, on Tuesday, killing at least six people, including two renowned traditional elders, according to witnesses.

The blast targeted the Cairo Hotel, which houses traditional leaders and military personnel who are presently coordinating the government’s fight against the extremist group al-Shabab.

The explosion sparked a fierce battle as the assailants stormed the hotel and engaged security officers.

“The attack killed six people, including two well-known traditional leaders,” said Muhsin Abdullahi, a resident who spoke with The Associated Press over the phone. He also stated that several injured people had been hospitalized.

Images shared on social media showed dense plumes of black smoke rising over the hotel, with the structure severely damaged.

No group took instant blame for the incident.

However, al-Shabab often conducts bombings and attacks against government officials and military personnel in the Horn of Africa country. The group controls portions of rural Somalia and continues to pose a substantial threat despite ongoing military assaults by Somali government soldiers and African Union peacekeepers.

Beledweyne, located around 335 kilometers north of the federal capital Mogadishu, is the capital of the Hiran area and a vital position in Somalia’s continuing war against Al-Shabab, which has ties to al-Qaeda.