Islamic Extremists Attack Beach in Somalia, Killing 32
- Islamic extremist group carried out an attack on a beachfront in Mogadishu, Somalia.
- The attack resulted in the death of 32 people, most of whom were civilians.
- The incident took place near a hotel in a popular beach destination in the Somali capital.
At least 32 people were killed and 63 others injured in a devastating attack in Mogadishu, Somalia, which involved a suicide bombing and subsequent gunfire. The assault occurred late Friday near a popular hotel on Lido Beach, a favored location for locals. According to police reports, the casualties included one soldier, while the majority were civilians. The Islamic extremist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack, which resulted in the deaths of three insurgents during a confrontation with law enforcement, with one insurgent captured alive. In a separate incident on Saturday morning, a roadside bomb exploded approximately 25 miles from the capital, claiming the lives of seven additional individuals and injuring four others. This follows a recent escalation in violence, as al-Shabab militants attempted to overrun three army bases in southern Somalia last month, leading to intense clashes with Somali forces. The ongoing threat posed by al-Shabab has prompted urgent discussions among Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and federal authorities regarding strategies to enhance security in the capital. President Mohamud emphasized the government's commitment to eradicating the militant group, which aims to overthrow the Somali federal government and expel foreign forces. Al-Shabab, linked to al-Qaida, seeks to establish a fundamentalist Islamic state and has been responsible for numerous deadly attacks in Somalia and neighboring Kenya. The Global Terrorism Index ranked al-Shabab as the fourth deadliest terrorist organization in 2023, with 227 attacks resulting in 499 deaths attributed to the group.