MOGADISHU: Somalia’s security forces on Friday morning ended an overnight siege of a beach restaurant by Al-Shabab gunmen in which eight people were killed.
Six civilians and two soldiers were killed at the Benadir Beach restaurant, a hangout spot for the capital city’s youths, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein.
“Nine people including two Shabab gunmen were killed in the attack” on Thursday, Mogadishu city spokesman Abdifatah Halane told AFP.
The militants attacked the Banadir Beach Restaurant close to the city’s Lido Beach, setting off a car bomb before exchanging fire with security forces.
The assailants also threw grenades at the security services who cordoned off the area. One man with a head wound was detained by the authorities which accused him of being the bomber.
The restaurant is popular with young people and government officials. Around 20 people managed to escape from the restaurant during the gunfight.
The Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement distributed via the Telegram messaging service, claiming to have killed “scores” of people.
It said the restaurant was targeted because it was frequented by “apostates” indulging in “obscenity and vice.” By Friday morning officials said the attackers had been killed.
All the “attackers have been gunned down and the restaurant is now under the full command of the Somali government soldiers,” regional police commander Col. Abshir Bishaar told the Somali National News Agency.
Shabab at it again: Mogadishu beach restaurant attack kills 8
Shabab at it again: Mogadishu beach restaurant attack kills 8
