MOGADISHU (SD) – Turkish government has condemned Mogadishu suicide bomb blast that killed more than 20 people mostly Somali military recruits.

In a statement, Turkish foreign ministry expressed solidarity with Somali government and its people, pledging to support the horn of African nation in the fight against al-Shabaab and other terror groups.

“We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack targeting the Somali National Army troops today (15 June) in Mogadishu,” a statement by Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry added, “Turkey will continue with determination to stand by the government and people of Somalia in their fight against terrorism.”

Turkey has extended condolences to the families of the victims killed in the attack.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the friendly and brotherly government and people of Somalia. We wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives in the attack and speedy recovery to the wounded,” the ministry said.

On Tuesday morning, al-Shabaab suicide bomber blew himself up at checkpoint outside the General Degaban military training camp in the capital, killing more than twenty people mostly recruits.

According to eyewitnesses recruits who were lined up outside an army camp.

Al-Shabaab’s radio Al-Andalus said the extremist group’s fighters carried out the attack.

The base was named after General Abdikarim Yussuf Dhagabadan, a former military who led operation to drive al-Shabaab out Somali capital in 2011.

Dhagabadan was killed in al-Shabaab attack on Sahafi hotel in Mogadishu in 2015.