MOGADISHU: Police said on Saturday that at least 32 people have been killed and scores injured following a suicide bombing and gun attack at a popular beach in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Police spokesman Abdifatah Adan Hassan told the media that over 32 civilians have been killed in the attack. He added that more than 63 people have been wounded while all injured are being shifted to hospitals. He expressed fear that death toll may increase as many injured are in critical conditions. Earlier police said that seven people were killed and many injured in the attack. A blast and gunfire rocked a hotel by the beach in Mogadishu, and security personnel rushed to the site, authorities and witnesses said.
The state-run Somali National News Agency reported that security forces had “neutralized the attackers.”
According to AP, Al-Qaeda’s East Africa affiliate, Al-Shabab, claimed that its men conducted the assault in Somalia. Lido Beach, a popular area in the city, is bustling on Friday nights as local people enjoy their weekend.
A witness, Mohamud Moalim, said that he saw an attacker wearing an explosive vest moments before the man blew himself up at the beach. Moalim stated some of his fellows who were with him at the hotel were killed and others were injured.
Another witness, Abdisalam Adam, told that he saw various people lying on the ground and had assisted take some wounded to the hospital.
The Lido Beach has in the past been attacked by militants linked to Al-Shabab. The most recent assault last year resulted in 9 people being killed.
