SOMALIA SIEGE

Al-Shabab Kills 31 in Twin Mogadishu Restaurant Attacks

Forty more injured as gunmen hit Muslim diners breaking Ramadan fast.

Islamist extremists dressed in military uniforms raided two popular Mogadishu restaurants in the Somalia and killed as many as 31 people, police said Thursday. Terror group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attacks, which began Wednesday evening with a car bomb as Muslim diners were breaking their daily fast for Ramadan. The site of the neighboring Posh Treats and Pizza House restaurants was secured by police at dawn, the BBC reported. Survivors said gunmen were hunting people hiding in one restaurant and forced those trying to flee inside. Nearly 40 people were wounded, and many were shot at point-blank range. Survivors recounted hiding behind tables and curtains from five gunmen as the al Qaeda affiliate’s snipers shot at police from upstairs. “I never thought I would have the chance to see the sun again. They were killing people on sight,” university student Saida Hussein told the Associated Press. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said the victims are “martyrs” and noted the attack was carried out during Islam’s holy month. All of the gunmen were reportedly killed.