Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
At least 37 civilians were killed and 212 injured in a terrorist attack at a beach restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia.
What’s the deal: Government officials reported that the terror group al-Shabaab orchestrated the attack, which involved a suicide bomber and multiple gunmen. One of the terrorists was captured alive, while security forces killed three others.
A young man and his friend were recording videos at Lido Beach in Mogadishu when an explosion occurred. Some viewers may find the footage disturbing, as it captures a heartbreaking moment. pic.twitter.com/ENC6l1qnRZ
— Baidoa Online (@BaidoaU) August 3, 2024
How it unfolded: The attack on Lido Beach in Mogadishu started around 10 PM when a suicide bomber detonated explosives near a group of young people. Immediately after, gunmen began shooting. Somali security forces responded within minutes, leading to a standoff that lasted for several hours.
What witnesses said: Abdilatif Ali, who spoke to AFP, said, “Everybody was panicked and it was hard to know what was happening because shooting started soon after the blast. I saw many people strewn [on the ground] and some of them were dead and others wounded.”
Prime Minister comments: In a statement, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said, “I am sorry and I condemn the explosions that the terrorists attacked tonight on the people who were swimming on Lido beach. We pray to God to shower his mercy on the people who were martyred in this attack, and give health to those who were injured. I send my deepest condolences to the families, relatives and friends of those who were martyred in these blasts. The fact that the terrorist attack coincides with this night when the beach is the most congested shows the hostility of the terrorists to the Somali people. I call on the national forces and the Somali people to show more vigilance, cooperation, and efforts, to prevent the return of these barbaric attacks.”
Some more info: Despite government claims of an aggressive stance and a “winning strategy” against al-Shabaab, the group still controls large areas of rural central and southern Somalia. They frequently launch attacks in urban areas, including the capital, Mogadishu, aiming to destabilize the Somali government and establish an ultra-conservative Islamic state. Even with extensive military operations by the Somali National Army, supported by international forces such as the African Union, the United States, and Turkey, al-Shabaab remains a significant threat.
