A devastating attack struck the beachfront of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, late Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people. According to AFP, Al-Shabaab, a jihadist group linked to Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the assault, which began with a suicide bomber detonating his device along the popular Lido Beach.
The evening unfolded with chaos and fear.”The merciless terrorists shot civilians randomly, and I saw seven dead bodies along the beach,” said police officer Mohamed Omar. He added that many civilians were rescued by security forces, who swiftly responded to the crisis, although numerous people were wounded in the attack.
The security forces managed to end the siege, killing all five gunmen involved. Omar referred to the attackers as “Kharijites,” a term used by officials to describe members of Al-Shabaab. The sixth member of the group “blew himself at the beach,” he confirmed.
Witnesses recounted the horrifying scene as the explosion erupted amidst a large crowd. “Everybody was panicked, and it was hard to know what was happening because shooting started soon after the blast,” said Abdilatif Ali, who was present during the attack.
Ahmed Yare, observing from a nearby hotel, described the aftermath with shock. “I saw wounded people at the beachside, people were screaming in panic, and it was hard to notice who was dead and who was still alive,” he said.
This attack is the latest in a series of violent acts carried out by Al-Shabaab in Mogadishu and across Somalia, as the government continues its offensive against the militants. Last month, five people were killed in a powerful car bomb blast at a café in the capital. In March, the militants launched an hours-long siege on a Mogadishu hotel, killing three and wounding 27.
The evening unfolded with chaos and fear.”The merciless terrorists shot civilians randomly, and I saw seven dead bodies along the beach,” said police officer Mohamed Omar. He added that many civilians were rescued by security forces, who swiftly responded to the crisis, although numerous people were wounded in the attack.
The security forces managed to end the siege, killing all five gunmen involved. Omar referred to the attackers as “Kharijites,” a term used by officials to describe members of Al-Shabaab. The sixth member of the group “blew himself at the beach,” he confirmed.
Witnesses recounted the horrifying scene as the explosion erupted amidst a large crowd. “Everybody was panicked, and it was hard to know what was happening because shooting started soon after the blast,” said Abdilatif Ali, who was present during the attack.
Ahmed Yare, observing from a nearby hotel, described the aftermath with shock. “I saw wounded people at the beachside, people were screaming in panic, and it was hard to notice who was dead and who was still alive,” he said.
This attack is the latest in a series of violent acts carried out by Al-Shabaab in Mogadishu and across Somalia, as the government continues its offensive against the militants. Last month, five people were killed in a powerful car bomb blast at a café in the capital. In March, the militants launched an hours-long siege on a Mogadishu hotel, killing three and wounding 27.
