Al-Shabaab Attack on Mogadishu Beach Leaves 37 Dead

A suicide bomber and gunmen from Al-Shabaab attacked a busy beach in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, killing 37 people and injuring many more, according to officials on Saturday. This incident is one of the deadliest recent attacks in the country.

The Al-Qaeda-linked group has been fighting against the internationally-supported Somali government for over 17 years. They have previously targeted the Lido Beach area, a popular spot for business people and government officials.

The attack, which Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for on a pro-Shabaab website, began late on Friday with a suicide bombing, followed by gunmen storming the area. Survivors described the attackers as intending to “kill everyone they could.”

A graphic video shared online showed bloodied bodies on the sand. Somali Health Minister Ali Haji Adam confirmed 37 deaths and reported that 11 people are in intensive care, 64 remain hospitalized with injuries, and 137 with minor injuries have been discharged.

Officer Mohamed Omar told AFP that the attackers “shot civilians randomly.” Security forces ended the assault, killing five gunmen, while a sixth attacker “blew himself up at the beach.”

Police spokesman Abdifatah Adan Hassan stated that the attack targeted not only government officials and soldiers but also ordinary civilians. Survivors recounted that there were many people at the beach when the attack occurred, with one survivor, Omar Elmi, describing the scene of the explosion and subsequent gunfire. Another survivor, Harun Issa Wehliye, reported losing a close friend in the attack. Hawo Mohamed, a nearby resident, said at least seven people she knew were killed.

Hospitals have appealed for blood donations due to the high number of wounded. Mahad Abdiaziz Ibrahim, who was waiting to donate blood, described it as “the best thing” he could do.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced an emergency meeting with the prime minister and key security officials to address the situation. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre condemned the attack as a “barbaric atrocity” that goes against the values of their religion and culture. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the “heinous acts of terrorism” and expressed solidarity with Somalia. African Union Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat and Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry also condemned the attack and offered condolences.

Al-Shabaab has been responsible for numerous attacks in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia. The Lido Beach area has been targeted before, including a six-hour siege on a beachside hotel in 2023 that killed six civilians and injured ten. Last month, a car bomb blast at a cafe in the capital killed five people.