Mogadishu, August 3— A devastating gun attack on Mogadishu's Lido Beach has left at least 32 people dead and 63 others injured. The assault occurred on Friday and has been claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab, according to reports from Al-Jazeera and the BBC.
The attackers targeted a popular beach in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, causing chaos and panic. Somali news agencies reported that security forces responded swiftly to the scene. At least five attackers were killed in a shootout with security forces, while another attacker detonated an explosive vest.
Abdifatah Adan Hassan, a police spokesman, confirmed the casualties, stating that some of the injured are in critical condition. Witnesses described the harrowing scene; Mohamud Moalim told the AP news agency that an attacker wearing an explosive vest had blown himself up at a hotel, resulting in the deaths of some of his friends staying there.
Another witness, Abdultif Ali, recounted to AFP the panic and confusion that ensued after the explosion, noting the sight of numerous dead and injured individuals on the ground.
This tragic incident marks yet another brutal attack by Al-Shabaab, which has been responsible for numerous violent acts in Somalia and the surrounding region. The Somali government and international community have condemned the attack and continue to fight against the group's extremist activities.
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