ShareKUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent Sunday a cable of condolences to the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, on the demise of terrorist attack victims that took place in the capital of Mogadishu. His Highness the Amir wished the injured a speedy recovery, affirming Kuwait’s strong condemnation of this terrorist act. Also, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent a similar cable of condolences to the President of Somalia. Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry stressed Kuwait’s utter rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism, affirming its support to the Somali government in all the measures it would take to protect its safety and stability.
The Arab League’s Secretary-General Ahmad Abul-Gheit strongly condemned the criminal attack that targeted a hotel restaurant in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Friday and was claimed by an Al-Shabaab terrorist group. In a statement issued by the League, Abul-Gheit condemned the “cowardly” terrorist act that left dozens of casualties and injuries and through which the groups aim to weaken the federal government and spread terror among civilians.
Abul-Gheit stressed the Arab League’s solidarity with the Somali government and people in fighting everything that threatens its security and stability. He expressed his sincere condolences to the government and people of Somalia and to the families of the victims and wished speedy recovery for those injured.
An Al-Shabaab suicide bomber and gunmen attacked a busy beach in the Somali capital Mogadishu killing 37 people and wounding scores more, officials said Saturday, one of the deadliest recent strikes in the East African country. The Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists have been waging an insurgency against the internationally backed federal government for more than 17 years. They have previously targeted the Lido beach area, popular with business people and government members.
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. Survivors described how following the initial blast gunmen stormed onto the beach intending to “kill everyone they could”. Graphic video shared online immediately after showed bloodied bodies on the sand. “The overall number of the dead people we confirmed is 37,” Somali Health Minister Ali Haji Adam told journalists late Saturday.
Eleven people are in intensive care units, a further 64 people remain in hospital with wounds, while 137 people with light injuries have been discharged after receiving treatment, he added. Officer Mohamed Omar told AFP that members of the group had “shot civilians randomly”. Security forces ended the attack and killed five gunmen, while a sixth member of the group “blew himself (up) at the beach”, he added. Police spokesman Abdifatah Adan Hassan said the attack demonstrated the group was not only targeting government officials and soldiers, but also ordinary civilians. — Agencies
