On 14 July 2024, a car bomb exploded near Daljirka Daahsoon in Boondheere, Mogadishu. The explosion happened at 10:28 p.m. local time.[2] The target was Top Coffee, a Coffeehouse where people were watching the Euro 2024 final football match between England and Spain.[3][4][5]
| Top Coffee bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of Somali Civil War and Somali civil war (2009–present) | |
| Location | Bondhere District, Mogadishu |
| Date | 14 July 2024 10:28 am (UTC+3) |
| Target | Top Coffee (Coffeehouse) |
Attack type | suicide bombing |
| Deaths | 10, including the bomber |
| Injured | 20 |
| Perpetrators |  Al-Shabaab[1] |
| Motive | |
A suicide bomber had parked a car filled with explosives outside the café. The explosion killed more than nine people and injured 20 others. Al-Shabaab was responsible for the attack.[6][7]
Background
editAl-Shabaab is a militant group that has attacked public places where people watch football matches.
On 11 July 2010, they bombed two places in Kampala, Uganda, during the World Cup final match. These explosions killed 74 people and injured 85 others.[8]
On 15 June 2014, they attacked the town of Mpeketoni in Kenya. Many people were watching World Cup matches in public places. These attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 60 people.[9]
Target
editTop Coffee, located near Daljirka Daahsoon in the Boondheere neighborhood, is less than 500 meters from Villa Somalia. On the night of the Euro 2024 final football match between England and Spain, many people gathered at the cafe to watch the game.[10][11][12]
Attack
editA suicide bomber from Al-Shabaab parked a car loaded with explosives outside the café. The car bomb detonated at 10:28 p.m. local time. Most of the victims were people on the street and spectators watching the football match.[13][14]
Aftermath
editThe explosion killed more than nine people and injured 20 others. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.[15][16]
Reactions
edit- Former President of Somalia, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed tweeted;
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed @HESharifShAhmed
I strongly condemn the heinous attack on the young people who were watching games at the Top Coffee in Mogadishu tonight.
July 15, 2024[17]
- Former Somali Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame posted picture on X and said;
Abdirahman Abdishakur @AAbdishakurMay God have mercy on the people who lost their lives tonight in the explosion carried out by AS terrorists at the Top Coffee restaurant while they were watching the final game of the European Cup. The pictures shown here depict how AS terrorists are enemies of peace and our way of life. We must unite against this ruthless enemy that poses a threat to both the state and its people.
July 14, 2024[18]
References
edit- ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/car-bomb-kills-five-injures-20-outside-restaurant-somalias-capital-2024-07-15/
- ^ "Mogadishu shop hit by deadly car bomb". Voice of America. 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "At least 5 killed in bombing targeting a busy café in the Somali capital, police say". AP News. 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "Deadly explosion in Mogadishu leaves five dead, 20 injured - [İLKHA] Ilke News Agency". ilkha.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "Qarax sababay dhimasho iyo dhaawac oo xalay ka dhacay Muqdisho". Voice of America (in Somali). 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
- ^ "Car bomb explodes at busy cafe in the Somali capital, killing nine". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "Somalia car bomb kills people at café packed with fans watching Euro 2024 final". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "'Somali link' as 74 World Cup fans die in Uganda blasts". BBC News. 2010-07-11. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "Unidentified gunmen hit hotels, petrol, police station at Kenya's coast: police". Reuters. 16 June 2014.
- ^ "At least nine dead in Mogadishu cafe bombing during Euro final". Le Monde.fr. 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "Several killed, wounded in car bomb at Mogadishu cafe during Euro 2024 final". France 24. 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "At least 5 killed in bombing targeting a busy café in Mogadishu". Africanews. 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "At least 5 killed in bombing targeting a busy café in Somalia's capital, police say". NBC News. 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "Bombing outside a café in the Somali capital of Mogadishu kills at least five people, police say". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "Somalia: Bomber hits Mogadishu cafe during Euro 2024 final – DW – 07/15/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ https://www.barrons.com/articles/powerful-blast-hits-busy-cafe-in-mogadishu-afp-59663200
- ^ Sharif Sheikh Ahmed [@HESharifShAhmed] (July 15, 2024). "I strongly condemn the heinous attack on the young people who were watching games at the Top Coffee in Mogadishu tonight" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Abdirahman Abdishakur [@AAbdishakur] (July 14, 2024). "May God have mercy on the people who lost their lives tonight in the explosion carried out by AS terrorists at the Top Coffee restaurant while they were watching the final game of the European Cup. The pictures shown here depict how AS terrorists are enemies of peace and our way of life. We must unite against this ruthless enemy that poses a threat to both the state and its people" (Tweet) – via Twitter.