THE death toll from a double car-bomb attack near the presidential palace in Somalia rose to 20 Sunday, police said.

Police said Saturday seven people were killed following the two blasts in Mogadishu, which were claimed by the jihadist Shabaab group.

“The number of victims who were killed in the blasts increased to 20 and more than 40 others have been wounded,” said a Somali police official, Ibrahim Mohamed.

He said the toll had risen after some of those wounded Saturday died in hospital.

Both civilians and members of the security forces were among the casualties, the official said.

Somalia’s London-based Universal TV said Saturday that three of its staff were among the fatalities, naming one as Somali and British dual national Awil Dahir.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed condemned the “cowardly attacks.”

“We will continue defeating terrorists in order to lead the Somali people to stability and prosperity,” he said in a statement.

Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire visited the wounded in hospital.

The first explosion happened at a checkpoint outside the national theater, some 500 meters from the palace Saturday morning. The second blast, more powerful according to witnesses, came minutes later at a nearby crossroads.

Mohamed Abdullahi, a senior local official who was slightly wounded in the first blast, said members of his security team were among the dead.

“Seven of my security escort and a driver were among those killed, but such attacks will encourage our efforts to redouble the war against terrorists,” he said.

A Shabaab statement Saturday said the Islamist group’s “martyrdom operation” had targeted “a security checkpoint that used to protect the presidential palace.” (SD-Agencies)