At least 26 people have been killed in an extremist attack in Somalia including a prominent Somali-Canadian journalist and her husband.
Mogadishu-based independent radio station Radio Dalsan confirmed to The Associated Press that Hodan Nalayeh and Farid Jama Suleiman died in the attack Friday.
A Somali official says the attack started with a suicide car bomb blast and then gunmen stormed a hotel in the port city of Kismayo. The official says those killed include one Canadian, one Briton two Americans three Kenyans and three Tanzanians. Fifty-six people, including two Chinese, were also injured in the attack.
Global Affairs Canada has not confirmed the deaths but says it is aware of a bombing in Somalia and is working to get more information.
Ahmed Hussen, Canada's minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, expressed his grief on Twitter.
He says through her work as a journalist, Hodan highlighted the (Somali) community's positive stories and contributions in Canada.
According to our media partner CTV News Toronto, Nalayeh was 7 months pregnant and leaves behind two young children.