Militants kill at least 17 in attack on Somali beachfront restaurant

In Mogadishu, Somali security forces have ended a siege at a restaurant where gunmen had taken refuge after firing on diners and passers-by late Thursday. The attack left at least 17 people dead, the government says. The militant Islamist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility.

NPR's Gregory Warner reports:

"Police say the attack began at dusk with a car bomb at a popular restaurant on Lido beach in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

"Thursday evening is the start of the weekend in Somalia. The restaurants and beach were packed with people. A wedding party was in progress.

"Gunmen holed up in the restaurant as hundreds were trapped inside. A second car bomb went off an hour later after government soldiers had swarmed the scene.

The attack is the latest in a series of strikes on "soft targets" by the extremist group, which aims to impose its interpretation of Islamic law on Somalia. Greg notes that the use of car bombs and a few gunmen is the al-Shabab trademark in its attacks on hotels and restaurants.

Here's more from Greg on Thursday's attack:

"Lido beach in Mogadishu is more than just a relaxation spot, it's a symbol of what peace in Somalia might look like. You find young Somalis enjoying the surf or a bite of shrimp at seaside restaurants. This attack by al-Shabab was chillingly low-fi — two car bombs and a few gunmen managed to hold off police for eight hours."

Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke later tweeted about the assault on the restaurant. Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.