A car bomb exploded outside a popular cafe in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Sunday night, killing several people and injuring many more. The attack occurred at 22:28 local time as patrons at Top Coffee were watching the Euro 2024 football final between Spain and England.
The initial explosion killed at least five people and injured 20 others, according to police reports. Later updates from security sources indicated that the death toll had risen to nine. The jihadist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack.
Witnesses described a chaotic and terrifying scene. Mohamed Muse, one of the survivors, recounted, “We heard a loud, horrifying explosion during the first half of the game that we were watching. Everyone had to figure out how to save themselves.” He added, “I saw people in danger, injured people screaming for help, and others confused – it was terrifying.”
Another witness told the AFP news agency that some people in the cafe managed to escape by climbing ladders at the back and jumping over the wall. The explosion also destroyed several cars and damaged nearby buildings.
Al-Shabab, affiliated with al-Qaeda, stated that the attack targeted a place frequented by security and government workers at night. The area is close to Villa Somalia, the official presidential residence.
The jihadist group has carried out numerous bombings in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia over the past 17 years. However, there has been a lull in attacks in recent months due to a sustained offensive by Somali security forces against the group, which still controls large parts of the country.