"When the gunmen started firing from the ocean side after disembarking from the boat, many people ran to the hotel to exit on the other side of the road, but then they were met with a huge explosion. We cannot tell any casualties now," a source told the media outlet.
The UN special envoy to the country condemned the attack.
"I strongly condemn tonight's attack. #Lido beach is symbol of #Somalia life. My thoughts are with the people at this beach of #Mogadishu," Michael Keating said on his Twitter account.
I strongly condemn tonight's attack. #Lido beach is symbol of #Somalia life. My thoughts are with the people at this beach of #Mogadishu
— Michael Keating (@SRSGKeating) 21 января 2016
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, has been staging attacks in Somalia in an attempt to create an Islamic state ruled by strict Sharia law.
