Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for deadly Mogadishu attack

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack in the Somali capital Mogadishu, where 31 people, mostly civilians, were killed. Wednesday’s blast was one of the deadliest to hit the city in recent times.

A Syrian migrant who moved to Mogadishu was among the dead. He was one of the few professional cooks working at the restaurant, Pizza House, which was a popular downtown establishment. Al-Shabaab said it was targeting government officials and civil servants.

Government ministers held an emergency cabinet session after the attack. They condemned the attack and vowed a crushing response to the militant group. Mogadishu now plans to launch an offensive against Al-Shabaab.

Top diplomats from the United Nations, the African Union, and the European Union have condemned the attack, which was the first since the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

(CGTN)