Hiiraan Online
Sunday, January 24, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) – The deadly Al-Shabab attack on a beachfront restaurant on Thursday brought an outpouring grief and solidarity among the residents of the seaside capital with more than 25 people were killed amid mounting pressure on the government to prevent such attacks.
However, Somalis stood in solidarity with security forces who have rescued at least 100 in the hail of gunfire during the complex attack on Lido Seafood restaurant.
Somalia’s government is under renewed pressure in the wake of the attack which stunned the capital, as Somalis took to the social media calling the government to take ‘decisive’ measures to deal with the
militants’ attacks.
More than 40 people were wounded in the attack which lasted more than 10 hours before security forced ended the siege before on Friday.
In a televised speech Saturday, Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that his government would airlift ‘critically’ wounded victims for specialized treatment since the local hospitals are short of capacity to deal with them.
“We shall never forget those we lost to that heinous attack.” Mr. Mohamud said. He accused Al shabab of plotting to ‘massacre’ civilians by targeting public places
“The only thing that those anti-peace elements are capable of is attacking state house, parliament and the court – shedding the blood of the innocents is all they can do.” He said.
The attack comes few days after militants have overrun an African Union military base in El-Ade, southwestern Somalia, killing dozens of soldiers as fighters also looted caches of weapons and military
vehicles.