Mogadishu (SD) – Al-Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings in Galkayo, the capital of Mudug region in central Somalia.

Al-Shabaab spokesman Abdiaziz Abu Musab said the attack that killed an army officers, said the motive for the attack was to assassinate Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.

The attack took place at a location where the prime minister wanted to visit and the targeted officers were working on securing the PM’s safety.

“The aim of the attack was to assassinate the prime minister,” an al-Shabaab spokesman told local media, adding that the bombing was successful regardless.

Fourteen members of the 21st Division of the Somali National Army, other soldiers, and civilians were killed and many more were injured in the blast.

The officers killed in the attack include the Commander of the 21st Division of the Somali National Army, General Abdiaziz Abdullahi Abdi (Qooje), the Commander of the 21st Division of the Danab Command, Colonel Mukhtar Abdi Aden, the Deputy Commander of the Danab Commandos, Marsha Mire, and other officers. Ahmed Baraaf, former Mayor of Galkayo, Mohamud Yassin Tumey and several other soldiers.