Death toll hits 37 after Al-Shabaab attacks Mogadishu beach [Video]

An Al-Shabaab suicide bomber and gunmen attacked a busy beach in the Somali capital Mogadishu killing 37 people and wounding scores more, officials said on Saturday, in one of the deadliest strikes in the East African country in months.

The Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists have been waging an insurgency against the internationally backed federal government for more than 17 years and have previously targeted the Lido beach area, popular with business people and government members.

Survivors of Friday’s assault described how following the blast gunmen stormed onto the beach intending to “kill everyone they could”, with graphic video shared online immediately after showing bloodied bodies on the sand.

“The overall number of the dead people we confirmed is 37,” Somali Health Minister Ali Haji Adam said in a press statement late Saturday.

Eleven people are in intensive care units, a further 64 people remain in hospital with wounds, while 137 people with …