The blast occurred south of the capital targeting a Turkish-led construction crew laying a tarmac road, Somali new portal Garowe Online reported.

Al-Shabaab claimed that the blast killed one Turkish official and two Somali police officers, according to the outlet.

The road project linking Mogadishu to the nearby town of Afgoye was funded by a Qatari donation, with the Turkish construction company securing the contract, Garowe reported.