ANKARA

Turkey on Saturday condemned the double car bombings in the Somalia capital Mogadishu, where at least 18 people were killed and 20 others wounded on Feb. 23.

“We wish God’s mercy upon those who lost their lives in the attacks, convey our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and wish speedy recovery to the wounded,” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Turkey will maintain its strong solidarity with the Government and the brotherly people of Somalia in the wake of terrorist attacks targeting stability in Somalia,” the statement added.

On Friday, the first car bomb exploded near the Somalia presidential palace followed by a gun battle between security forces and terrorist al-Shabaab attackers, according to state media.

Internal Security Minister Mohamed Abukar Islow confirmed that security forces killed five al-Shabaab attackers after an hour-long battle near the presidential palace.

The second blast targeted a security checkpoint near the Somali national intelligence and security agency headquarters in Mogadishu.

Friday's double attack comes a day after Islow issued a warning of terrorist attacks at a Cabinet meeting.

According to local media, the Somali-based insurgent group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the Friday evening attack.

Last October at least 300 people died in a previous double car bombing in Mogadishu, the deadliest attack in modern Somali history.