Al-Shabaab claims beach attack in Somali capital

Islamist extremist group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on Lido beach in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, during the evening of 21 January. At least 20 people are believed to have died. The group set off two car bombs and five gunmen are also reported to have attacked the popular area. The group itself claimed that it had taken control of one of the restaurants and that there were many casualties. Lido beach has a number of restaurants, and caters to young Somalis, business people and diaspora Somalis who have returned to the capital. This is the latest in a series of attacks that the group has launched in Mogadishu. The group has been keen to discount claims that it is close to defeat after being driven out of the city in 2011 and following the deaths of a number of its alleged commanders in drone strikes.

A car bomb has exploded at a popular seaside restaurant in the Somali capital Mogadishu, with intense gunfire following the blast, police said.

“There was a car bomb explosion at a restaurant at the Lido beach. There is shooting and gunfire,” police officer Ahmed Bidan said.



The Lido beach area is busy with restaurants, including upmarket establishments popular with business people and diaspora Somalis who have returned home to Mogadishu.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but al-Shabaab insurgents linked to al-Qaida have carried out a string of similar bombings in the past.

Al-Shabaab, which is fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government in Mogadishu, carry out regular attacks in the capital.

The Islamists have been on a mission to disprove claims they are close to defeat since being driven from Mogadishu in mid-2011 and losing several alleged commanders in US drone strikes.

Last week the group stormed a Kenyan army base in south-west Somalia, the latest case of their overrunning an African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base.

Kenya has so far declined to say how many of its soldiers were killed, injured or missing, but an al-Shabaab statement put the death toll at more than 100.