Turkey strongly condemned Al-Shabaab twin suicide car bombing two early Wednesday morning in Mahaas area in the Hiran region.
“We are deeply saddened to learn that many people lost their lives and were injured in the terrorist attack that took place today (4 January) at the central Mahas in Hiraan district of Somalia.” The Turkish embassy in Mogadishu said in a statement
The embassu added the wounded are under treatment at the Mogadishu Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan Training and Research Hospital.
Turkey will continue to stand by Somalia in its fight against terrorism, it added.
Two explosions killed at least 29 people, including eight members of the same family, while 72 others were injured, according to Mahaqs district Commissioner, Mumin Mohamed.
The President of Hirshabelle State, Ali Gudlawe Hussein, together with officials from the Hirshabelle administration, visited the the victims injured in Erdogan hospital in Mogadishu and prayed for their speedy recovery.
The attack in the town of Mahas was the latest in a series by al Qaeda affiliate al Shabaab since government forces and allied clan militias last year began pushing the insurgents out of territory they had long held.