Death Toll Reaches 37 After Al-Shabaab Suicide Bombing, Gun Attack on Mogadishu Beach

A suicide bomber and gunmen from the Al-Shabaab militant group launched a devastating attack on a busy beach in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Friday night, killing 37 people and injuring many more, officials reported on Saturday. This marks one of the deadliest recent assaults in the East African country.

The Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents, who have been battling the internationally-backed Somali government for over 17 years, targeted Lido Beach, a popular spot frequented by businesspeople and government officials.

The attack began late on Friday when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device, followed by gunmen storming the beach. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on a pro-Shabaab website.

Survivors recounted how, after the initial explosion, the gunmen advanced onto the beach, aiming to “kill everyone they could.” Graphic footage shared online shortly after the attack showed bloodied bodies scattered on the sand.

Somali Health Minister Ali Haji Adam confirmed the death toll, stating, “The overall number of dead people we confirmed is 37.” He added that eleven people are in intensive care units, 64 are hospitalized with injuries, and 137 with lighter wounds have been discharged.

Officer Mohamed Omar reported that the attackers “shot civilians randomly,” while security forces intervened, killing five gunmen. A sixth attacker “blew himself up at the beach,” he said.

Police spokesman Abdifatah Adan Hassan noted that the attack highlighted the group’s shift in targeting, saying, “The group is not only targeting government officials and soldiers but also ordinary civilians.”

Witnesses described the scene of chaos. Omar Elmi, who was at the beach during the attack, told AFP, “As we were enjoying our time on the beach, a suicide bomber blew himself up among crowds of people.” Another survivor, Harun Issa Wehliye, recounted that his close friend was killed in the explosion and that armed men began shooting indiscriminately.

Local resident Hawo Mohamed reported that at least seven people he knew had been killed. “The devastation is immense and there is blood and severed pieces of human flesh strewn at the scene,” he said.

Hospitals have called for blood donations due to the influx of casualties. Mahad Abdiaziz Ibrahim, who was waiting to donate blood, told AFP, “I am donating my blood to help those in desperate need.”

In response to the attack, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced he would convene an emergency meeting with the prime minister and key security officials. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre condemned the attack as a “barbaric atrocity fundamentally contradictory to the cherished values of our religion and culture.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the “heinous acts of terrorism” and expressed support for Somalia in its fight against “violent extremism.” African Union Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat called the incident “horrific” and “callous,” extending condolences to the victims’ families.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry also condemned the attack, particularly the targeting of civilians, and expressed solidarity with the Somali government.

Al-Shabaab has previously targeted Mogadishu and other areas in Somalia. The Lido Beach area has been attacked before, including a six-hour siege of a beachside hotel in 2023 that killed six civilians and wounded ten. Last month, a car bomb at a café in Mogadishu killed five people, and in March, militants killed three and wounded 27 in an attack on another hotel in the capital.