The death toll from a triple car bombing in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu has risen to 53, including seven attackers from the al-Shabaab terrorist group.

Several civilians have died of their injuries in hospital, while others were found dead in the rubble of the Sahafi Hotel, senior police officer Ali Hassan says.

Hospital officials said at least 106 people were injured in the attacks, .

“Some families are searching for their loved ones because they are still missing, as several whose bodies were burned badly beyond recognition were found in civilian vehicles,” Hassan said earlier on Saturday.

Al-Shabaab has said it was responsible for the bombings.

The attackers detonated two car bombs in front of the Sahafi Hotel, which is frequented by government officials and other members of Somalia’s elite, on Friday.

Two militants, who were driving the cars filled with explosives, were killed in the blast, while five others were shot dead by security forces before they could enter the hotel, Hassan said.

The third bomb was hidden in an unmanned car that had been parked at a nearby car park, police said.

Al-Shabaab is affiliated with the international al-Qaeda terrorist network and launches regular attacks within the volatile east African nation.

-AAP