At least eight people lost their lives and 28 others were injured in a brutal attack on Lido Beach in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.
The incident occurred late on Friday night, August 2nd, as the popular beach area was bustling with locals enjoying their weekend.
Witnesses reported that an explosion rocked a hotel by the beach, followed by intense gunfire. Mohamud Moalim, who was present at the scene, recounted the harrowing moments: "I saw an attacker wearing an explosive vest moments before he blew himself up next to the beach-view hotel." He added, "Some of my friends who were with me at the hotel were killed and others were wounded."
The state-owned Somali National News Agency confirmed that security forces swiftly responded to the attack and managed to neutralize the assailants.
However, the damage had already been done. Abdisalam Adam, another witness, described the aftermath: "I saw many people lying on the ground and helped take some injured people to the hospital."
This attack is part of a series of violent incidents attributed to al-Shabab, an extremist group affiliated with al-Qaida. The group has been a persistent threat in Somalia, opposing the federal government and frequently targeting civilians and government institutions.
Just weeks earlier, on July 14th, 2024, a bombing outside a café in Mogadishu killed at least five people and injured 20 others. The café was crowded with people watching the European soccer final between Spain and England when a car loaded with explosives detonated.
Somalia's government, under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has declared "total war" against al-Shabab, with ongoing high-profile offensives aimed at dismantling the extremist group.
Comentários