18 killed in Mogadishu restaurant attack

MOGADISHU: A suicide car bombing and armed assault by six Shabaab militants on two neighbouring restaurants in Somalia's capital Mogadishu ended Thursday morning with at least 18 dead, the government said, reports AFP.
"The operation is over now and the gunmen were killed by the security forces," said Mohamed Ahmed Arab, spokesman for Somalia's security ministry.
He said the six attackers -- one suicide bomber and five gunmen -- "attacked business places and killed innocent civilians: 18 civilians were killed, including a Syrian national, and more than 10 others were wounded."
The attack began at around 8pm (1700GMT) on Wednesday evening with a suicide car bombing at the Posh Treats restaurant and club, after which gunmen stormed inside the nearby Pizza House restaurant. The Syrian national is believed to have been a chef at Pizza House.
Both venues are popular with affluent, young and diaspora Somalis and were busy as customers broke the Ramadan fast. Islamist attacks often increase in tempo during the holy month but Wednesday's was the first major assault by the Shabaab this Ramadan.
The gunmen spent the night roaming the restaurant killing those they found trapped before they were eventually killed by security forces whose operation had been slowed by the darkness.
Survivors and witnesses described chaos after the bomb went off.
"I was about to have dinner when the blast threw me to the ground," said Abdikarim Ahmed, a customer at Posh Treats. "I rushed to the nearby exit and went out. I could see the chaos caused by the blast and shrapnel everywhere."
Abdukadir Mohamed, who was close by, said it was the loudest blast he had ever heard in years living in Mogadishu. "It was very close. I could see the huge fire it caused, the dust, destruction, everything. Both Pizza House and Posh Treats were on fire. The whole area looked like a different place," he said.

18 killed in Mogadishu restaurant attack

MOGADISHU: A suicide car bombing and armed assault by six Shabaab militants on two neighbouring restaurants in Somalias capital Mogadishu ended Thursday morning with at least 18 dead, the government said, reports AFP. The operation is over now and the gunmen were killed by the security forces, said Mohamed Ahmed Arab, spokesman for Somalias security ministry. He said the six attackers -- one suicide bomber and five gunmen -- attacked business places and killed innocent civilians: 18 civilians were killed, including a Syrian national, and more than 10 others were wounded. The attack began at around 8pm (1700GMT) on Wednesday evening with a suicide car bombing at the Posh Treats restaurant and club, after which gunmen stormed inside the nearby Pizza House restaurant. The Syrian national is believed to have been a chef at Pizza House. Both venues are popular with affluent, young and diaspora Somalis and were busy as customers broke the Ramadan fast. Islamist attacks often increase in tempo during the holy month but Wednesdays was the first major assault by the Shabaab this Ramadan. The gunmen spent the night roaming the restaurant killing those they found trapped before they were eventually killed by security forces whose operation had been slowed by the darkness. Survivors and witnesses described chaos after the bomb went off. I was about to have dinner when the blast threw me to the ground, said Abdikarim Ahmed, a customer at Posh Treats. I rushed to the nearby exit and went out. I could see the chaos caused by the blast and shrapnel everywhere. Abdukadir Mohamed, who was close by, said it was the loudest blast he had ever heard in years living in Mogadishu. It was very close. I could see the huge fire it caused, the dust, destruction, everything. Both Pizza House and Posh Treats were on fire. The whole area looked like a different place, he said.