- Terror attack on Mogadishu beach: eight dead so far
Suspected Islamists have attacked a hotel and the popular Lido Beach in the Somali capital Mogadishu. According to a police spokesman, there have been at least eight fatalities, but the number is likely to rise.
Social media is circulating horrifying images: people fleeing the beach in panic, others lying bleeding and screaming in the sand, as shown in pictures and videos from eyewitnesses. Gunshots can be heard in the background. Rescue teams could not reach the injured as shooting continued.
The attack is still ongoing, a police spokesman told the German Press Agency. The situation is currently unclear. In addition to gunshots, explosions can also be heard. A beach hotel is also a target of the attack.
The Lido Beach is a popular destination for Mogadishu residents, especially on weekends. The shots followed an explosion caused by a suicide bomber, according to police reports.
The Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack on 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 in Mogadishu on government institutions and hotels or restaurants that the Islamists view as promoting a western lifestyle. In July, a terrorist attack on a venue during the UEFA Euro 2020 final resulted in 11 deaths.
The Commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the ongoing attack at Lido Beach and the hotel in Mogadishu. The Commission strongly condemns the actions of The Islamists, who have claimed responsibility for the attack.
