Initial reports were of gunfire and two explosions at the hotel. By 16 January 2019, President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta said that 14 people had been killed, including all the terrorists. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement that was released during the attack. Mohammed Gichunge was the shooter but was quickly shot down by Kenya's Rekke Squad - an equivalent to America's SWAT. His accomplice and girlfriend fled to Somalia. The hotel was reopened in August.