Hiiraan Online
Friday, January 22, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) – Death toll from an Al-Shabab attack on a beachfront Mogadishu restaurant has risen to 25 with four wounded victims died from their wounds at the hospital in Mogadishu, sources say Friday.
Somali security forces ended a siege by Al-Shabab of a beachfront restaurant before dawn Friday after hours of intermittent gunfire and explosions that saw attackers held out troops for many hours.
This deadly attack began on Thursday evening when men armed with suicide vests, machine guns and bombs sprayed bullets on the guests at the restaurant before taking positions inside.
Many civilians including university graduates who were celebrating for their post-university
graduate were caught up in the attack and trapped inside the restaurant which overlooks Mogadishu's Liido beach.
Al-Shabab claimed the responsibility for the attack, saying that they have attacked a restaurant frequented by government officials.
Blasts and gunfire rattled throughout the night in the Somali capital as troops were fighting to regain the control of the building.