“We did not directly order the attacks, but there are lots of angry people in Somalia who support our fight and want to change the situation.”
Ali Mohammed Yassin, another diner in the restaurant, described a “loud explosion” and said that badly wounded victims were rushed to hospital who he feared “would not survive”.
The bombers targeted the popular Village restaurant, run by Somalis who had returned to their country from Britain, an eatery popular with influential Somalis as well as the few foreigners living in the city.
The restaurant is opposite the National Theatre, and about a kilometre (half a mile) from the presidential palace.
Often hailed as a symbol of revival for Mogadishu, it was set up following the Shabaab’s pullout of fixed positions in the city last year.
After over two decades of anarchy and war, the seaside city has seen modest improvements since the Shabaab left frontline fighting positions, with a boom in building and businesses.
However, the hardline fighters switched to guerrilla attacks in Mogadishu – including suicide bombings – and remain a potent threat.
Last week they launched a failed assassination bid against the newly elected president, killing three soldiers.
The attack comes as the Shabaab face growing pressure on the last major city they hold – the southern port of Kismayu – which Kenyan troops with the African Union force alongside Somali militia gunmen are battling towards.
The key Shabaab-held towns of Afgoye, Baidoa and the port of Marka have all fallen in recent months, with the militants largely retreating ahead of assault.
While the insurgents have continued to carry out attacks in Mogadishu including grenade attacks, the last blast on the scale of Thursday’s attack was in February, when a suicide bomber killed 15 at a cafe.
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