Mogadishu Beach Attack by Al Shabaab Leaves 37 Dead, Scores Injured
Mogadishu, Somalia – A devastating explosion at a popular beach restaurant in the Somali capital late Friday claimed the lives of at least 37 civilians and injured 212 others, according to Health Minister Ali Haji. The Somali government has attributed the attack to the militant Islamist group al Shabaab.
During a press conference, Minister Haji revealed that 11 of the injured are in critical condition. This incident marks the deadliest attack in Somalia since October 2022, when twin car bombs detonated near a bustling market intersection, resulting in over 100 deaths and 300 injuries.
The assault also claimed the life of one soldier, as confirmed by police spokesperson Abdifatah Aden. According to Aden, one of the attackers detonated a suicide bomb, while three others were killed by security forces, and one was captured alive.
Although al Shabaab has not officially claimed responsibility for this attack, the group has a history of similar attacks, including the 2022 car bombings.
Hassan Farah, a survivor of the attack, recounted the terrifying moment: “I was in the restaurant sipping coffee and having a good chat with friends when I saw a big man running. In a second, there was something like lightning and a huge blast,” he told Reuters. “We were covered with smoke. Inside and outside the restaurant, many people were lying on the floor while others were bleeding and crying.”
The aftermath on Saturday morning showed a beach littered with abandoned sandals and shoes as people fled in panic. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre convened with security agencies to devise plans for bolstering the city’s security. “The government is determined to eliminate the terrorists. The terrorists want to terrify the civilians. Let the civilians report the terrorists hiding among them,” stated a post from the president’s office on social media platform X.
Despite significant government counteroffensives since 2022, al Shabaab remains capable of launching severe attacks on various targets across Somalia.
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Mogadishu Beach Attack by Al Shabaab Leaves 37 Dead, Scores Injured
