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| Mogadishu attack: 20 killed as Al-Shabaab gunmen storm Somalia beachfront restaurant | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| At least 20 people have died in a terrorist attack in Somalia. A siege at a beachfront restaurant in the capital Mogadishu ended this morning after more than eight hours. | At least 20 people have died in a terrorist attack in Somalia. A siege at a beachfront restaurant in the capital Mogadishu ended this morning after more than eight hours. |
| Islamic extremist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack. | Islamic extremist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack. |
| The security forces took control of the restaurant just before dawn, said Captain Mohamed Hussein, speaking from the scene of the attack in Mogadishu. | The security forces took control of the restaurant just before dawn, said Captain Mohamed Hussein, speaking from the scene of the attack in Mogadishu. |
| It was not clear whether Hussein's report of more than 20 killed included the assailants. Members of al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a broadcast on its online radio late on Thursday. | It was not clear whether Hussein's report of more than 20 killed included the assailants. Members of al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a broadcast on its online radio late on Thursday. |
| "I was intending to go out but suddenly we heard a heavy explosion followed by gunfire. ... I saw a militant fighter shooting indiscriminately on everybody. Then I locked myself inside a room until we were evacuated peacefully by the security forces," said Abdulkadir Mohamed Somow, who had been trapped inside the restaurant. | "I was intending to go out but suddenly we heard a heavy explosion followed by gunfire. ... I saw a militant fighter shooting indiscriminately on everybody. Then I locked myself inside a room until we were evacuated peacefully by the security forces," said Abdulkadir Mohamed Somow, who had been trapped inside the restaurant. |
| Blasts and bursts of gunfire could be heard as Somali special forces went from room to room pursuing the al-Shabaab gunmen who were holed up inside the restaurant. | Blasts and bursts of gunfire could be heard as Somali special forces went from room to room pursuing the al-Shabaab gunmen who were holed up inside the restaurant. |
| Hussein, the police official, said the security forces rescued many people who had been trapped inside the restaurant's hall, where a party was taking place when the attack started on Thursday. | Hussein, the police official, said the security forces rescued many people who had been trapped inside the restaurant's hall, where a party was taking place when the attack started on Thursday. |
| An eye witness told The BBC that a wedding ceremony was taking place in the hall of the restaurant when the attack happened. | An eye witness told The BBC that a wedding ceremony was taking place in the hall of the restaurant when the attack happened. |
| Witnesses said that gunmen entered the restaurant from the direction of the beach. They shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great," as they attacked. | Witnesses said that gunmen entered the restaurant from the direction of the beach. They shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "God is great," as they attacked. |
| "They randomly fired at people sitting near the beach before entering the restaurant,”" said witness Ahmed Nur, who was strolling along the shoreline when the attack happened. | "They randomly fired at people sitting near the beach before entering the restaurant,”" said witness Ahmed Nur, who was strolling along the shoreline when the attack happened. |
| Al-Shabaab attacked Kenyan peacekeepers in southwestern Somalia last week. | Al-Shabaab attacked Kenyan peacekeepers in southwestern Somalia last week. |
| The al-Qaeda-linked group said it had killed about 100 Kenyans and seized weapons and military vehicles. | The al-Qaeda-linked group said it had killed about 100 Kenyans and seized weapons and military vehicles. |
| The Kenyan government has given no death toll, but said there were some fatalities. | The Kenyan government has given no death toll, but said there were some fatalities. |
| Despite being pushed out of Somalia's major cities and towns, al-Shabaab continues to launch deadly guerrilla attacks across the Horn of Africa country. | Despite being pushed out of Somalia's major cities and towns, al-Shabaab continues to launch deadly guerrilla attacks across the Horn of Africa country. |
| African Union troops, government officials and foreigners are frequently targeted. | African Union troops, government officials and foreigners are frequently targeted. |