Terrorist attack at Lido beach in Mogadishu, Somalia claims at least 37 lives

On Friday evening, at least 37 people lost their lives in a terrorist attack on the popular Lido beach in Mogadishu, Somalia. Among the deceased is a Swedish man in his thirties, who was visiting Somalia to see his ill mother. A friend of the man, wishing to remain anonymous, described him as a kind individual with a big heart and considerable ambitions. They had planned to meet that day, which is now impossible due to the tragedy.

The friend recounted that the man was out socializing and that the beach is a hub for leisure activities in the city, noting it has been attacked multiple times in the past. She had been at the beach just a day prior, where families gathered, music played, and people enjoyed food and dancing.

According to local reports, the attack was not coincidental; it’s viewed as an assault on a lifestyle that extremists oppose. The friend expressed her confusion and anger over the senseless violence, questioning why innocents are targeted. She speculated that the terrorists aim to instill fear and hopelessness, particularly among Somalis from Western countries visiting their homeland.

The attack involved five assailants, one of whom detonated a suicide bomb. Authorities reported that at least 37 people were killed and over 200 injured. Some fleeing victims ended up drowning in the sea, complicating identification efforts. The Somali president has blamed the al-Shabaab group, which claimed responsibility for the attack.