Several killed in al-Shabab beach attack in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu
Al Jazeera
Armed group claims responsibility for attack on popular seaside spot frequented by Somalis on weekends.
Several people have been killed and more wounded in an attack on a popular beach in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, according to officials.
Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked armed group, claimed responsibility for attack on Lido beach late on Friday via an affiliated radio station.
Security forces rushed to the scene, the Somali National News Agency reported, saying that at least five attackers were shot dead while a sixth blew himself up on the spot. The explosion went off while residents were on the beach.
“We counted and confirmed eight dead people and 28 others injured. But other people also took casualties and so the figure is sure to rise,” Dr Abdikadir Abdirahmman, director of Aamin Ambulance service, told Reuters news agency.
Police officer Mohamed Omar told AFP news agency that he had seen “seven dead bodies along the beach” after the attack, adding security forces ended the attack and killed five members of al-Shabab after a sixth detonated an explosive device.
