DOHA (SD) – Qatari government has extended condolences to families of the victims killed in a suicide bombing near Somalia’s presidential palace in Mogadishu.

In a statement, Qatari foreign ministry has condemned the VBIED attack  that targeted several vehicles waiting to pass through the security checkpoint between Waberi and Hamarweyne districts near Villa Somalia

The checkpoint is the one used by Somalia’s president and prime minister on their way to and from the airport in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

Qatari government wished quick recovery for those wounded in the attack.

Al-Shabaab claimed the responsibility for the attack saying it was targeting senior government officials.

“The mujahideen carried [out] a martyrdom operation targeting the main security checkpoint of the presidential palace,” the group said.

The militant group was drove out of the capital in 2011 following days long fierce fighting with Somali military backed forces of African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom).