UAE condemns terrorist attack in Mogadishu

The UAE has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, which resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries to innocent people.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of international law.

The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and to the families of the victims of this heinous crime, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.

At least 37 civilians were killed and 212 were injured in an explosion at a popular beach restaurant in the Somali capital late on Friday, Somalia's health minister said, an attack the government blamed on militant group Al Shabaab.

Ali Haji told a press conference that 11 of those injured in the attack in Mogadishu were in a critical condition.

"Eleven people are in intensive care units, a further 64 people remain in hospital with wounds, while 137 people with light injuries had been discharged after receiving treatment, he said.

In addition to the civilians killed at the beach restaurant, police spokesperson Abdifatah Aden said one soldier was killed during the assault.

One of the attackers blew himself up while three others were killed by security forces.One attacker was captured alive, Aden said.

Aden said the attack demonstrated the group was not only targeting government officials and soldiers, but ordinary civilians as well.

Witnesses said there were many people at the popular location when the explosion occurred, describing how gunmen then stormed the area.

The assault, for which Al Shabaab claimed responsibility in a post on a pro-Shabaab website, began late on Friday when a suicide bomber detonated a device and gunmen stormed the area.

Officer Mohamed Omar told reporters that members of the group had "shot civilians randomly." He said security forces had ended the attack and killed five gunmen, while a sixth member of the group "blew himself (up) at the beach."

Hassan Farah, a survivor, described the shock as the explosion shattered a peaceful evening. On Saturday morning, the beach was strewn with sandals and shoes left by people as they fled the scene.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre met with security agencies after the attack and drew up plans to strengthen the city's security, the president's office said in a post on X.

"The government is determined to eliminate the terrorists. The terrorists want to terrify the civilians. Let the civilians report the terrorists hiding among them," the post said.

Agencies