A devastating attack by Al-Shabaab on a popular beach in Mogadishu has resulted in the deaths of 37 individuals and left many others injured, according to Somali officials.
According to the AFP, the assault, one of the deadliest recent incidents in Somalia, began late Friday night when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device, followed by gunmen storming the Lido Beach area.
Al-Shabaab, affiliated with Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack on a pro-Shabaab website.
The group has been engaged in a long-standing insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for over 17 years and has previously targeted the Lido Beach area, which is frequented by business people and government officials.
Following the initial blast, survivors recounted how gunmen aimed to “kill everyone they could.” A graphic video circulating online showed the aftermath, with bloodied bodies scattered across the sand.
Somali Health Minister Ali Haji Adam confirmed the death toll at 37 and noted that eleven people are in intensive care. Sixty-four individuals remain hospitalized, while 137 with minor injuries have been discharged after treatment.
Security forces responded to the attack, killing five of the gunmen, while a sixth detonated an explosive device on the beach.
Police spokesman Abdifatah Adan Hassan emphasized that the attack targeted not only government officials and soldiers but also ordinary civilians.
Survivors and witnesses described the chaos and horror of the scene. Omar Elmi, who was present at the beach, described how the suicide bomber’s explosion scattered people on the ground.
Harun Issa Wehliye, another survivor, reported that armed men followed the blast, indiscriminately shooting civilians. Hawo Mohamed, a local resident, mourned the loss of at least seven acquaintances in the attack.
Hospitals have issued appeals for blood donations to assist the influx of wounded victims. Mahad Abdiaziz Ibrahim, waiting to donate blood, called it “the best thing” he could do to help.
In response to the attack, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced an emergency meeting with key security officials.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre condemned the attack as a “barbaric atrocity” against Somali values. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat also condemned the violence, offering solidarity and condolences.
Al-Shabaab continues to pose a significant threat in Somalia, having executed numerous bombings and attacks.
The Lido area has previously suffered from Al-Shabaab violence, including a siege in 2023 that killed six civilians and a recent car bomb attack at a local café. The Somali government remains engaged in ongoing efforts to combat the Islamist militants.
