Gunshots, screams, bleeding people writhing in the sand of Mogadishu’s Lido Beach. A terrorist attack in the Somali capital destroys a peaceful weekend.
Islamists have attacked a hotel and the popular Lido Beach in the Somali capital Mogadishu. According to a police spokesman, at least 14 people were killed. More than 30 people were injured. However, it must be assumed that the number of victims is even higher. Security forces were still fighting the attackers after midnight (local time).
Horrific images spread on social media: people fleeing the beach in panic, others lying bleeding and screaming in the sand, as pictures and videos from eyewitnesses show. Gunshots can be heard in the background. Rescue teams were unable to reach the injured because the shooting continued.
The attack is still ongoing, a police spokesman told the German Press Agency. The situation is currently unclear. In addition to gunshots, explosions can also be heard. A beach hotel is also the target of the attack.
Lido Beach is a popular destination for Mogadishu residents, especially at weekends. According to police, the shooting was preceded by an explosion caused by a suicide bomber.
The Islamist terrorist militia Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack on its radio station. The Islamists control areas in parts of Somalia, but have been pushed out of the capital in recent years.
Nevertheless, attacks on government facilities and on hotels and restaurants in Mogadishu continue to occur, in which the Islamists see a Western lifestyle. In July, for example, eleven people died in a terrorist attack on a restaurant during the final of the European Football Championship.
