Al-Shabab fighters go on killing spree as Mogadishu breaks Ramadan fast

Two restaurants were targeted by al-Shabab militants with an overnight rampage and bombing leaving at least 19 civilians and five guards dead, including a Syrian chef.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

15 June, 2017

The militant attack left at least 18 civilians dead [AFP]

Nineteen civilians and five guards were killed in the early hours of Thursday morning, as al-Shabab militants ran riot throughout the night in central Mogadishu.

A Syrian chef is thought to be among the dead in the attack on the popular Pizza House and Posh Treats restaurants, which began as locals gathered to break their Ramadan fast on Wednesday night.

A suicide car bomb tore through the restaurant complex in the Somali capital, before militants began a killing spree which only ended after a prolonged gunfight with security forces lasting well into the early hours of the morning.

"The operation is over now and the gunmen were killed by the security forces," said Mohammed Ahmed Arab, spokesman for Somalia's security ministry.

Six attackers - one suicide bomber and five gunmen - were involved in the raid on the up-market area of Mogadishu which is popular with young and diaspora Somalis and some foreigners.

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"[They] attacked business places and killed innocent civilians: 18 civilians were killed, including a Syrian national, and more than 10 others were wounded," Ahmed Arab said.

A later reported increased the death toll to 19.

The militants roamed through the restaurants killing diners with early reports suggesting they held some civilians hostage.

Al-Shabab fighters moved through the restaurants killing survivors of the blast with the Somali military saying they were unable to move in due to the darkness.

Al-Shabab - which is alligned to al-Qaeda - claimed responsibility for the attack on its broadcaster Radio Andalus.

Al-Shabab regularly launches attacks on Somali military, government and civilian targets with bombings and shootings often increasing during the holy month of Ramadan.

Wedneday's attack came when the restaurants were packed with Somalis eating iftar following a day of fasting.

This was the first major attack by the group this Ramadan and the area - which was said to be one of the few nightspots for Somalis - has been drastically changed following the attack.

"You cannot recognise this area," said Hawa Ahmed, a local resident and a regular at Pizza House, who had opted not to visit last night.

"Where there were two beautiful restaurants, this morning there is complete devastation and death, blood and body parts everywhere."

The US have launched a number of airstrikes and special forces raids on al-Shabab headquarters in the country.