On August 2, 2024, a deadly attack perpetrated by the militant group Al-Shabab claimed the lives of at least 32 people and left over 60 others injured at the Beach View Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia. The attack was one of the deadliest assaults on the capital this year.
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The attack took place at the Beach View Hotel, located on Lido Beach, Mogadishu. This area is known for its bustling atmosphere especially on Friday nights when residents enjoy their weekend by the seaside.
The timing of the attack, on a crowded weekend evening shows a deliberate attempt to maximize casualties.
The assault began with a suicide bomber detonating explosives at the entrance of the Beach View Hotel.
Witnesses reported seeing a man wearing an explosive vest moments before the explosion. Following the blast several armed attackers stormed the hotel and opened fire on civilians.
The reports from police and health officials indicate that at least 37 people were killed and over 200 others were injured.
Among the dead were both civilians and security personnel. The injured were treated in local hospitals with some in critical condition.
Al-Shabab, an extremist group affiliated with al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack via its radio station.
The group has been fighting to overthrow the Somali government for over 17 years and regularly carries out bombings and attacks in the capital and other parts of the country.
Al-Shabab’s choice of Lido Beach as a target highlights its intent to strike fear among the civilian population and undermine the government’s authority.
The attack sends a clear message that al-Shabab can escalate violence in the capital if the government does not engage with them.
This act also risks portraying the group as an indiscriminate terrorist organization at a time when it seeks political legitimacy.
The attack exposes security lapses in one of Mogadishu’s most affluent and supposedly secure areas. Matt Bryden, a strategic adviser with the Sahan Research think tank, labeled it a massive security failure.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened an emergency session with security agencies to investigate the attack.
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Countries like Egypt and Turkey, security partners for Somalia strongly condemned the attack and expressed their support for Somalia in its fight against terrorism.
The Somali police quickly responded to the attack engaging in a gun battle with the militants. Major Abdifatah Adan Hassan, the police spokesperson confirmed that three attackers were killed, one was captured and one blew himself up.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned the attack as horrific. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chair of the African Union Commission also condemned the attack, describing it as horrific.
The United Nations through Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq expressed sadness over the continued suffering of the Somali people due to terrorism.
The attack’s impact on civilians was devastating with many people killed or injured while enjoying a night out.
Local hospitals such as the Somali-Sudanese Specialized Hospital were overwhelmed by the influx of victims.
Medical staff worked to provide care, but the severity of injuries including those caused by shrapnel and bullets led to several deaths.
Somalia’s disaster management agency issued an urgent appeal for blood donors to aid the injured.
Al-Shabab has been engaged in a insurgency against Somalia’s central government since 2007. The group aims to establish an Islamic state and continues to control parts of southern and central Somalia, where it imposes strict Sharia law.
Somalia’s government relies heavily on foreign military support including the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and US air raids to combat al-Shabab. The drawdown of ATMIS peacekeeping troops scheduled to complete by December 31, 2024.
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