MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – The death toll from a suicide car bomb attack on Sunday night at the Top Coffee restaurant, located in the heavily guarded Daljirka area near the presidential palace, Villa Somalia, has risen.
Emergency teams and police sources confirmed that 13 people were killed and 21 others were injured.
The victims were primarily teenagers watching the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain on Sunday night. Four of the deceased were women.
“There were a lot of people sitting outside the cafeteria where we were spending the evening. Suddenly, a Toyota Surf 4X4 car exploded,” said Abdirisaaq Mohamed, who was nearby during the explosion.
Some of the victims were employees of Top Coffee.
Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed condemned the incident, describing it as barbaric.
“This attack demonstrates the ruthlessness of terrorist groups towards our youth, who represent the future of our Country, and towards the business community who have invested in their Country,” said President Sharif.
The Somali government has not yet officially commented on the attack.
This incident is the second major attack in Mogadishu within 24 hours. On Saturday, a group of Al-Shabaab prisoners in the Central Prison in Mogadishu carried out an attack that resulted in the deaths of at least 8 people, including three soldiers and five prisoners, and injured around 20 others.