MOGADISHU: 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.
