Beach suicide blast in Somalia kills 32 people – as terror group claim responsibility

World

At least 32 people have been killed and 63 others injured in a terrorist bomb attack on a beach in Somalia.

The emergency services expect the number of casualties to rise following the explosion, which took place as people swam at a popular resort in the capital Mogadishu late on Friday.

Videos posted on social media showed the bodies of victims lying on the beach in the dark as people ran for safety.

Image:
A victim of the explosion is carried away from the scene. Pic: Reuters

Dr Abdikadir Abdirahmman, the head of an ambulance service, said: “We counted and confirmed eight dead people and 28 others injured.

“The figure is sure to rise.”

Read more on Sky News:
Plea deal for 9/11 suspects revoked
Released British citizen feared execution

Expressing his condolences, former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire said: “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.”

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Somali media reported five terrorists had been killed by the security forces, while a sixth blew himself up during the assault.

Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group has in the past claimed responsibility for similar attacks.

The group controlled a vast area of Somalia before being pushed back in a series of government counteroffensives since 2022.

However, the militants remain capable of launching significant attacks on government, commercial, and military targets.

Articles You May Like

Arizona is getting 200 MW of Tesla battery storage to meet rising energy demand
Bitcoin rises to a fresh record above $94,000 as investors watch Trump transition, ETF options
Lawyer says 290 women pursuing Harrods compensation over alleged Mohamed al Fayed assaults
Slovakia reaches Billie Jean King Cup semifinals
Bitcoin edges higher as tensions mount between Ukraine and Russia