MOGADISHU, SOMALIA: A devastating explosion at a popular beach restaurant in Mogadishu on Friday evening resulted in the deaths of at least 32 civilians and injuries to 63 others. The attack, which Somali state media has attributed to the militant Islamist group al Shabaab, marks the deadliest incident in Somalia since the twin car bombings of October 2022 that killed over 100 people.
Police spokesperson Abdifatah Aden reported that one attacker detonated a bomb while three others were killed by security forces. One attacker was captured alive, and a soldier was killed during the assault. The State News Agency SONNA initially reported that five attackers had been killed by security forces, with a sixth attacker blowing himself up.
Survivor Hassan Farah recounted the traumatic experience, describing how the explosion interrupted a peaceful evening. “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. Farah described the scene of chaos, with people lying on the floor, bleeding, and crying amidst the smoke and confusion.
Videos posted on social media showed grim scenes of bodies on the beach and people fleeing the area in terror. Al Shabaab, which was driven out of large territories by government forces in recent counteroffensives, remains capable of launching major attacks against government, commercial, and military targets.
Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire condemned the attack, emphasizing the terrorists’ hostility towards the Somali people. He noted the timing of the attack, which targeted a busy night on the beach, highlighting the deliberate nature of the assault against civilians. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation and heightened fears about the ongoing threat posed by al Shabaab. Authorities are expected to increase security measures and continue efforts to combat the militant group’s insurgency.
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