Al-Shabab storms beachside restaurant in Somali capital
Al-Shabab storms beachside restaurant in Somali capital
Al Jazeera and agencies, 21 Jan 2016
URL: http://goo.gl/YAHvAw
Up to 20 people were killed when al-Shabab suicide bombers and gunmen attacked a seafront hotel and restaurant in the heart of the Somali capital.
A car packed with explosives rammed into the Beach View Hotel on Lido beach in Mogadishu on Thursday evening, after which several al-Shabab fighters opened fire at the hotel, witnesses told Al Jazeera.
"After the blast, I saw at least four armed men run into the hotel, shooting everyone inside and around the hotel," Mustafa Elmi, a beach visitor, told DPA news agency.
"I managed to escape with minor wounds, but there were people who were shot dead on the spot," he added.
At least six people - and eight attackers - were killed, the intelligence agency told Al Jazeera. Other reports, citing police and officials, said up to 20 people may have been killed in total.
Locals said the death toll was likely to rise because some families had earlier collected bodies for burial.
A car packed with explosives rammed into the Beach View Hotel on Lido beach in Mogadishu on Thursday evening, after which several al-Shabab fighters opened fire at the hotel, witnesses told Al Jazeera.
"After the blast, I saw at least four armed men run into the hotel, shooting everyone inside and around the hotel," Mustafa Elmi, a beach visitor, told DPA news agency.
"I managed to escape with minor wounds, but there were people who were shot dead on the spot," he added.
At least six people - and eight attackers - were killed, the intelligence agency told Al Jazeera. Other reports, citing police and officials, said up to 20 people may have been killed in total.
Locals said the death toll was likely to rise because some families had earlier collected bodies for burial.