Turkey on Friday night condemned a suicide tricycle bomb explosion outside a restaurant near the port in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.
”We are saddened to receive the news that a terrorist attack with a bomb-laden vehicle targeting a restaurant near Mogadishu port this evening (5 March) resulted in the loss of more than 20 people including Somalian security forces and injured more than 30,” Turkish foreign ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.
”We strongly condemn this heinous terrorist attack and extend our condolences to the brotherly people and Government of Somalia. We wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives, convey our condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,”
According to Aamin medical services it registered a count of 20 dead during the attack on Lul Yamani restaurant in Hamar Jajab district.
Al-Qaeda linked group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack via online.
Somali Police Force however put the death toll at 10 and that 30 people were injured.
Friday’s attack came hours after troops deployed by the federal government and blocked major roads in Mogadishu on Friday ahead of the planned opposition rally which was scheduled to take place on Saturday.