Islamist gunmen kill 17 in Somalia beach cafe attack
Al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab claims its members set of car bombs at popular Mogadishu beach restaurant.
By REUTERSUpdated: JANUARY 22, 2016 08:10Al-Shabab militants(photo credit: REUTERS)
MOGADISHU - At least 17 people were killed when Islamist gunmen struck a popular beachside restaurant in the Somali capital of Mogadishu late on Thursday, Somali police said.Al Shabaab, a militant group aligned with al-Qaida, said its members set off two car bombs at the Beach View Cafe on Mogadishu's popular Lido beach, engaging in a gun battle for hours with government troops trying to flush them out."The operation ended at 3 a.m. last night and at least 17 civilians were killed," police officer Osman Nur told Reuters on Friday.Police said al Shabaab fighters set off the first car bomb at dusk. A huge second blast, which witnesses said echoed around the city center, struck about an hour later as government soldiers laid siege to the restaurant.
