Somali officials say there are several casualties resulting from a suicide bomb and gun attack by Al-Shabab in Kismayo, Somalia, Al-Jazeera reports.

According to authorities, a suicide bomber crashed a car loaded with explosives into The Medina—a popular hotel in the port city in the southern part of the country. Legislators and local elders were convening there to discuss an upcoming local election.

"The toll may increase since the attack is not over yet," Abdi Dhuhul, security official, tells AFP. He notes that among the dead are a former local administration minister, a legislator, as well as journalists and politicians.

Reuters adds that Hodan Nalayeh, TV journalist and founder of Integration TV, her husband Farid Jama Suleiman, former minister of commerce of Jubbaland Federal State and Mohamed Omar Sahal, SBC TV correspondent, are among those killed.