The Islamist militant group Al Shabab claimed responsibility for the deadly assault, which started late Friday. Al Shabab have been waging an insurgency against the internationally backed government in Somalia for more than 17 years and have previously targeted the beach area, Lido, which is popular with businesspeople and officials as well as with other residents. A witness, Mohamed Jibril, said that, at the time of the attack, he had been out with friends in the area, which had been thronged with hundreds of people. “We heard a loud explosion followed by gunfire,” Mr. Jibril said in an interview. “I saw many people lying on the beach asking for help, and no one dared to help them because there was ongoing shooting.”

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Persons: Al Shabab, Mohamed Jibril, “, Mr, Jibril, ” Locations: Somalia’s, Mogadishu, Somalia