Gunmen, suicide bomber attack restaurant in Somali capital; at least 3 dead
Two ambulances stand near the scene of an armed attack on a restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Jan. 21.
Reporting from Mogadishu, Somalia — A suicide car bomber rammed the gates of a restaurant near a beach in Somalia’s capital before gunmen fought their way into the building in an attack that killed at least three people on Thursday, a police official said.
The assailants may have taken some hostages inside the Liido Seafood restaurant, which is popular with Mogadishu’s elite and government officials, Capt. Mohammed Hussein said.
“The operation [to dislodge the attackers] is ongoing now. The [attackers] are still inside and fighting our troops,” Hussein said from the scene of the attack as gunfire rang out in the background.
See more of our top stories on Facebook >>
He said he had counted at least three bodies outside the restaurant. An unknown number of people are still trapped inside the restaurant, he said.
The Islamist militant group Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack in an online radio broadcast late Thursday.
Witnesses said that gunmen shouted “Allahu akbar,” the Arabic phrase for “God is great,” and entered the restaurant from the direction of the beach as customers, sitting behind razor wire, watched the seashore.
“They randomly fired at the people sitting near the beach before entering the restaurant,” said witness Ahmed Nur, who was strolling along on the shoreline when the attack happened.
Al-Shabab attacked Kenyan peacekeepers in southwestern Somalia last week. The al-Qaida-linked group claimed it had killed about 100 Kenyans and seized armaments and military vehicles. The Kenyan government has given no death toll, saying broadly that there were some fatalities.
Despite being pushed out of Somalia’s major cities and towns, Al Shabab continues to launch deadly guerrilla attacks across the Horn of Africa country. African Union troops, government officials and foreigners are frequently targeted.
ALSO
British inquiry finds Putin probably OK’d killing of ex-agent Litvinenko
How a student’s suicide has reignited a debate over caste in India
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
