Monday August 5, 2024
Heroic Moment: Abdirahman Rage carries an injured boy to safety during the deadly Al-Shabaab attack on Liido Beach (left). Rage, photographed after the incident, recounted his brave actions that saved a life amidst chaos (right).
Mogadishu (HOL) — A video posted on social media shows Abdirahman Rage rescuing a young man injured in an explosion on Liido Beach last Friday night. In the footage, Rage is seen crouching and kneeling next to the injured person lying on the ground while people flee the scene amid chaos and uncertainty.
The attack on the Lido Beach View Hotel began at 10 p.m. local time when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the entrance. Five attackers then stormed the area, targeting people dining, swimming, or walking. The death toll from the attack climbed to close to 40, with 140 others wounded. Somali Health Minister Ali Haji Adam reported that 11 of the injured are in critical condition, while 137 people with light injuries have been discharged after treatment. The remaining 64 wounded are still in the hospital.
Rage recounted his experience to the BBC, saying he arrived at Liido Beach minutes before the explosion to relax and have coffee. "I went to the Beach View café to have coffee. While I was sitting there for just a few minutes, the explosion occurred. The place where I was sitting was about fifteen steps away from the explosion, but the café's wall shielded me," Rage said.
Describing the aftermath, Rage said the joy turned into sorrow, with heavy smoke, gunfire, and people fleeing the beach. "It was very chaotic. I took refuge inside a nearby hotel called Liido Sea Food. From inside, I saw a boy lying outside, raising his hand, while gunfire continued," he said. Initially, Rage hesitated to approach the boy due to the heavy gunfire. "Bullets were even hitting the ground," he said. The people he was hiding with had left, leaving only him and two girls. He then made a tough decision. "Despite the danger and believing that I might get hit by a bullet, I decided to help this boy and succeeded in rescuing him," Rage added.
Rage said the boy had injuries on his back, with only the upper part of his body moving. "I'm still amazed at how I made that decision," he said. "It was a feeling I can't describe. I doubt I could be so courageous if a similar danger were to happen now. But that night, it was God's will, and my decision changed unexpectedly to focus entirely on that boy."
A few days later, Rage discovered where the injured boy was being treated and visited him. "We understood each other, and he recognized me. He held my hand for a long time and said, 'You saved my life,'" Rage told the BBC.
In response to the attack, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre announced the arrest of several army officers on duty. He emphasized that strict measures were being taken to hold those accountable for security lapses. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Barre convened an emergency security meeting to address the situation and discuss measures to enhance Mogadishu's security. Barre described the attack as a "barbaric atrocity" that contradicts Somali values and called for unified support for the victims and ongoing emergency operations.
Hundreds of Mogadishu residents protested on Sunday following the attack, demanding justice and expressing their solidarity against al-Shabab. Government officials, including ministers, joined the protest at Liido Beach. Protesters carried Somali flags and anti-al-Shabab slogans, chanting along the beachfront where the attack occurred.
Survivors of the attack described the horror they experienced. Omar Elmi recounted, "As we were enjoying our time on the beach, a suicide bomber blew himself up among crowds of people. Then we could see many people scattered on the ground, including dead, injured, as well as shocked people." Hassan Farah added, "I was in the restaurant sipping coffee and chatting with friends when I saw a big man running, and then there was a huge blast. We were covered with smoke. Inside and outside the restaurant, many people were lying on the floor while others were bleeding and crying."
The attack has also highlighted critical blood shortages in Somali hospitals. Dr. Abdillahi Dahir, administrator of a private hospital, emphasized the urgent need for a national blood bank. Hospitals often resort to social media to find urgent blood donors, underscoring the severe strain on resources. The Somali government has announced plans to revive the national blood bank, highlighting its critical importance for saving lives during emergencies.
In March, the government arrested 16 people, including a key suspect, for facilitating a deadly attack on the upscale SYL Hotel near the presidential palace. The Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) accused the suspect of facilitating the smuggling of the vehicles used for the attack.