- At least 32 killed in terrorist attack on Mogadishu beach
Islamists have attacked a hotel and the popular Lido Beach in the Somali capital Mogadishu. According to a police spokesman, at least 32 people were killed, including the five terrorists. More than 30 people were injured, but the number of victims is expected to be higher. The shootout between the attackers and the police lasted until the early morning hours. The Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.
"I was injured in the arm by an artillery shell," said Shamso Abdi, who had spent the evening at the Lido Beach Hotel with friends. One of her friends had head injuries and was in critical condition. Panic broke out in the hotel, she told the German Press Agency. "Everyone was running for their lives."
Chaotic situation in Mogadishu
Horror images spread on social media: people fleeing the beach in panic, others lying bleeding and screaming in the sand, as pictures and videos from eyewitnesses show. Shots can be heard in the background. Rescue teams could not initially reach the injured because shooting was still ongoing.
A suicide bomber exploded himself at the hotel entrance on Friday evening. The other attackers tried to storm the hotel, but also fired at the people on the beach, where numerous residents were walking or sitting in the sand with friends or relatives at the time of the attack.
Hospitals called for blood donations to treat the numerous injured. Some relatives of the deceased beach and hotel visitors posted pictures of their loved ones on social media, while others desperately searched for information about the fate of friends or relatives, whose fate they did not know.
Terrorist group claims attack
The Lido Beach is a popular destination for Mogadishu residents, especially on weekends. According to police reports, the shooting was preceded by an explosion caused by a suicide bomber. After years of daily violence and attacks, the possibility of using the beach again was seen as a sign of normalization in the crisis-ridden country on the Horn of Africa.
The terrorist group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in its radio station. The Islamists control areas in parts of Somalia, but have been pushed back from the capital in recent years.
However, there are still attacks on government institutions and hotels or restaurants in Mogadishu, where the Islamists see a western lifestyle. In July, 11 people died in a terrorist attack on a restaurant during the UEFA European Championship final.
The Lido Beach, known as a popular weekend spot for Mogadishu residents, was also targeted during the attack. Despite the ongoing shootout, Shamsa Hassan decided to venture back to the beach the next day, but was saddened to see the remnants of the previous day's chaos and violence.
