World

Suicide Blast In Beach Restaurant In Somali, 32 Killed

At least 32 people were killed and dozens injured in a suicide attack at a beach restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Friday, as reported by state media SONNA on Saturday.

Six members of the Somali militant group al-Shabaab targeted the Beach View Hotel with a suicide bomb. Five attackers were killed, but the fate of the sixth remains unclear.

The morning after the blast, video footage showed civilians gathered around an ambulance at the attack site. People were seen sitting on the sand, with a section of the ground appearing blackened.

Hassan Farah, a survivor of the attack, told Reuters he was sitting in the restaurant with friends when the explosion occurred.

“In an instant, there was something like lightning and a huge blast,” he said. “We were covered with smoke. Inside and outside the restaurant, many people were lying on the floor, bleeding and crying.”

Injured victims were taken to hospitals across the city, SONNA reported. Many members of the public responded to an urgent call for blood donations.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they were targeting Somali officials and officers, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.

Al-Shabaab aims to overthrow the Somali government and establish rule based on its strict interpretation of Sharia law. The group is the “largest and most kinetically active al-Qaeda network in the world,” according to the US Africa Command, and was designated as a terrorist organization by the US in 2008 and by a UN Security Council committee in 2010.

After Friday’s attack, Mogadishu Mayor Yusuf Hussein Jimale offered “prayers for a speedy recovery for the injured and wished paradise for those who lost their lives,” SONNA said.

Also Read: India Issues ‘Advisory for Bangladesh’ Amid Rising Tensions

Swastika Sruti

Recent Posts

What Is Typhon Missile System? Philippines Announces Plans To Buy The Weapons System From US

The Philippines has confirmed plans to acquire the US-made Typhon missile system, a move that…

55 mins ago

KJS Cement Case: SC Refuses To Quash 2nd FIR Against Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia

The Supreme Court of India declined to intervene in a case involving Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia…

1 hour ago

Honda And Nissan Outline Ambitious Path To Merger In Industry Restructuring

Japanese car manufacturers Honda and Nissan have announced intentions to combine forces, paving the way…

1 hour ago

Lakshmi Puri Moves Delhi HC Against Saket Gokhale Over Defamation Ruling

Former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Lakshmi Puri has filed a petition with the Delhi High…

1 hour ago

Tamil Nadu Bakery Honors Ratan Tata With A 7-Foot Ice Cake Statue Featuring His Beloved Dog Tito

A Tamil Nadu bakery unveiled a 7-foot ice cake statue of Ratan Tata with his…

1 hour ago

PV Sindhu Ties The Knot With Venkata Datta Sai In Udaipur: Viral Photos Revealed

PV Sindhu married Venkata Datta Sai in a traditional ceremony in Udaipur on December 22.…

3 hours ago