NEW YORK, 20 December, 2020, (TON): United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned the attack that took place in Galkayo, Somalia on Friday, which resulted in heavy casualties.

Through a statement attributable to his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, UN chief Guterres extended his deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He urged the Somali authorities to “investigate the attacks and swiftly bring those responsible to justice.”

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the full commitment of the United Nations to support the people and government of Somalia in their fight against terrorism, violent extremism and organized crime toward building a stable, peaceful and prosperous country.

At least 10 people including senior Somali military officials were killed and several others wounded when a suicide bomber targeted a football stadium in Galkayo, the capital of the central region of Mudug, ahead of a planned address by Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Roble.

The bomber targeted government officials and members of the prime minister’s security team heading to the stadium for a rally of government supporters.

The blast came as tension continues to simmer in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, and as the country gets closer to presidential elections scheduled for February 8.