Seven killed in Mogadishu beach restaurant attack

Mogadishu, Aug 26 (AFP) Seven people were killed in anattack by Shabaab jihadists on a beachfront restaurant in theSomali capital Mogadishu, a spokesman for the city authoritiessaid today. "Nine people including two Shabaab gunmen were killed inthe attack" yesterday, Mogadishu city spokesman AbdifatahHalane told AFP. Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab jihadists attacked the BanadirBeach Restaurant close to the city’s Lido Beach, setting off acar bomb before exchanging fire with security forces. The restaurant is popular with young people and governmentofficials. Around 20 people managed to escape from therestaurant during the gunfight. By this morning officials said the attackers had beenkilled. All the "attackers have been gunned down and therestaurant is now under the full command of the Somaligovernment soldiers," regional police commander Colonel AbshirBishaar told the Somali National News Agency. "The terrorist attack killed nine persons, five of themwere civilians, two security forces and the other two were themilitants who carried out the attack," Bishaar said, addingthat two other civilians were injured. It is the second time this year the group has attacked theLido beach area and its many eateries, including upmarketestablishments popular with business people and diasporaSomalis who have returned home to the city. In late January, Shabaab gunmen detonated a bomb beforebursting into the Lido Sea Food Restaurant and sprayinggunfire at terrified customers, killing 20 people. The group is expected to try and violently disruptelections due to be held in September and October. Despite abandoning the capital five years ago Shabaabstill launches regular attacks against government, military,civilian and foreign targets. The jihadists have also staged repeated attacks inneighbouring Kenya and a recent security analysis warned thegroup was expanding its horizons with cells active inDjibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda as well asSomalia. (AFP)ABH