Mogadishu [Somalia], Dec 23 (ANI): At least 15 people lost their lives in a double car bomb that rattled Somalian capital Mogadishu on Saturday.

CNN quoted security official Ibrahim Jana as revealing that twenty people were injured in the explosion.

Central Mogadishu was rocked after a blast occurred near the Presidential Palace, the National Theatre and the Daljirka Dahson monument.

Several staff members of London-based Universal Somali TV including senior journalist Awil Dahir Salad were killed in the blast.

In a statement put out, a terrorist group linked to al Qaeda, Al-Shabaab claimed the responsibility for the attack.

The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, who drove a car filled with explosives to the gate of the presidential palace and killed presidential guards, read the statement.

Somalia's National Intelligence Agency officials took to Twitter to reveal that the mastermind behind the twin attack has been detained.

Senior journalist Awil Dahir Salad was among several staff members of London-based Universal Somali TV who were killed, according to the station. (ANI)

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