Explosion Occurs On Somali Capital Beach, Many Casualties

JAKARTA - The explosion occurred on the beach in the capital Somalia on Friday, August 2 evening. It was reported that there were casualties and injuries.

Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said the explosion occurred while residents were swimming on Liddo beach.

"I extend my deepest condolences to my family, relatives and friends who were martyred in this explosion," Khaire said.

"The fact that a terrorist attack occurred coincides with the night when the densest coast showed the hostility of terrorists towards the people of Somalia," he continued.

Video posted on social media platform X shows bodies lying on the beach in the dark, and people running to safety.

Somalia's National Television said security forces had eliminated the attackers and medical personnel responded to treat those injured.

The al Shabaab group linked to Al Qaeda in the past has claimed responsibility for similar attacks.

The group controlled a large area in Somalia before being successfully pushed back through the government's retaliatory attacks since 2022. However, militants were still able to launch significant attacks on government, commercial and military targets.