THE tranquil shores of Mogadishu’s Lido Beach turned into a scene of carnage and chaos on Friday night, as a devastating explosion ripped through a popular beachfront restaurant, leaving at least 37 civilians dead and 63 injured, according to Somali police.
The attack, the deadliest since the horrific twin car bombings near a bustling market in October 2022, shattered the evening calm and sent shockwaves through Somalia’s capital. While no group has yet claimed responsibility, Somali state media pointed fingers at the militant Islamist group al Shabaab, notorious for similar acts of terror in the past.
As night fell on Lido Beach, a favoured retreat for Mogadishu’s residents seeking respite from the city’s heat and tensions, the air was filled with the sounds of laughter and gentle waves. In an instant, that serenity was obliterated.
“I was in the restaurant sipping coffee and having a good chat with friends when I saw a big man running. In a second, there was something like lightning and a huge blast,” Hassan Farah, a survivor, told Reuters. His voice trembling, he added, “We were covered with smoke. Inside and outside the restaurant, many people were lying on the floor while others were bleeding and crying.”
The attack’s grim toll was compounded by its timing, striking when the beach was at its busiest. “The fact that the terrorist attack coincides with this night when the beach is the most congested shows the hostility of the terrorists to the Somali people,” former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said on his X account, his words echoing the nation’s anguish.
In the attack’s immediate aftermath, social media platforms were flooded with harrowing videos showing bodies strewn across the darkened beach and terrified survivors fleeing to safety. The images painted a stark picture of a paradise lost to violence.
Police spokesperson Abdifatah Aden provided a chilling account of the assault’s details. Beyond the civilian casualties, he reported that one attacker had detonated himself, while security forces neutralized three others. In a small victory amidst the tragedy, one attacker was captured alive, though the operation cost the life of one brave soldier.
This latest atrocity serves as a grim reminder of al Shabaab’s persistent threat. Despite being pushed back by government counter-offensives since 2022, the group continues to demonstrate its lethal capabilities, striking at the heart of Somalia’s attempts to rebuild and find peace.
As dawn broke over Lido beach on Saturday, the gentle lapping of waves against the shore was a cruel counterpoint to the previous night’s violence. The sand, once a playground for families and friends, now bore silent witness to a nation’s grief and resilience in the face of ongoing terror.
