A suicide bomber and gunmen affiliated with the Al-Shabaab terrorist group attacked a crowded beach in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, on Friday evening, leaving at least 32 people dead and scores injured. This attack, one of the deadliest in recent months, underscores the ongoing insurgency waged by the Al-Qaeda-linked group against the internationally backed Somali government.
The Al-Shabaab militants, known for their violent attacks targeting civilians and government officials, have previously targeted the Lido beach area, a popular spot for business people and government officials. The attack began with a suicide bomber detonating an explosive device, followed by gunmen storming the area, according to police and witnesses.
Unverified videos shared online in the aftermath of the attack showed people fleeing the scene in panic, with several clips purportedly depicting bloodied bodies lying on the beach.
“More than 32 civilians died in this attack and about 63 others were wounded, some of them critically,” police spokesman Abdifatah Adan Hassan stated at a press conference. “Targeting and blasting to kill 32 members from the civilian population means these Kharijites are not going to target only government centres, soldiers and officials,” Hassan added, using a term Somali officials use to refer to Al-Shabaab.
Al-Shabaab, claiming responsibility for the attack on a pro-Shabaab website, targeted the Lido area, known for its popularity among locals and tourists alike. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as people scrambled for safety, with gunmen reportedly firing indiscriminately.
“Everybody was panicked and it was hard to know what was happening because shooting started soon after the blast,” witness Abdilatif Ali recounted. Ali described seeing people strewn on the ground, some dead and others injured. Another witness, Ahmed Yare, who observed the attack from a nearby hotel, shared a similar account, stating, “I saw wounded people at the beachside. People were screaming in panic and it was hard to notice who was dead and who was still alive.”
The Lido area has been a target for Al-Shabaab in the past, including a six-hour siege of a beachside hotel in 2023, resulting in the deaths of six civilians and injuries to ten others.
The Somali government, actively engaged in an offensive against Al-Shabaab, remains resolute in its efforts to counter the militant group’s insurgency. Despite these efforts, the recent attacks highlight the ongoing security challenges faced by the government and the devastating impact on innocent civilians.
This attack comes just a month after a powerful car bomb blast at a cafe in Mogadishu killed five people and follows an hours-long siege of another Mogadishu hotel in March, which claimed the lives of three people and injured 27. The attacks underscore the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab and the need for continued international support in Somalia’s fight against terrorism.
