10/14/2024
Today from Hiiraan Online:  _
advertisements
Google
Somali leaders, international community condemn al-Shabab attack in Mogadishu
1538 Shares
    FacebookFacebook messengerTwitterWhatsAppLinkedInTelegramEmail


    Saturday August 3, 2024

    Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali leaders and the international community have strongly condemned the al-Shabab suicide attack on popular restaurants at Liido Beach in Mogadishu on Friday night, which killed at least 32 people and wounded 63 others.

    President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre convened an emergency meeting with security agencies and questioned officials on the circumstances of the attack.

    President Mohamud and Prime Minister Barre expressed their condolences to the victims' families and wished a swift recovery to the injured. "The terrorist attack on the Liido coast shows the cruelty of Khawaarij and their aim to destroy Somali civilians," stated President Mohamud.

    Former Presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed also extended condolences to the people. They called for unity in defending the country from terror groups, particularly al-Shabab militants.

    The European Union and the United Nations in Somalia strongly condemned the terrorist attack. The EU stated, "This brutal attack at Liido Beach against civilians underlines yet again Al Shabaab's barbarity towards their compatriots. The EU affirmed its solidarity with the Somali government and people, reiterating its commitment to supporting Somalia in its fight against terrorism.

    The United Nations Secretary-General's Acting Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, stated, "Lido Beach is a popular place for Somalis to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the beauty of the Somali coastline. Targeting this location is a despicable act that warrants the firmest condemnation."

    He reaffirmed the UN's support for the Federal Government of Somalia in its efforts to ensure peace, security, and stability.

    Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), also condemned the attack, stating, "We denounce this barbaric act of terror in the strongest terms. Such cowardly attacks will not undermine the resolve of the Somali government, its resilient people, or the region at large. Instead, it will strengthen our collective determination to rebuild Somalia and eliminate the scourge of terrorism."

    The attack began Friday evening with a suicide bomber detonating an explosive vest at the Beach View Hotel, followed by gunmen storming the premises.

    Somali Police Force Spokesman Major Abdifatah Adan Hassan announced, "The security forces eliminated all the terrorists behind the cowardly attack. Targeting and killing 32 civilians shows that these Kharijites will not only target government centers, soldiers, and officials."

    Governor of Banadir Region and Mayor of Mogadishu, Yusuf Hussein Jimale (Madaale), along with Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Mohamed Hassan Bulaale, visited several hospitals overnight to meet with victims as local hospitals appealed for blood donations.

     





    Click here