Somali militant group denies role in suicide blast that killed 22 at graduation ceremony

Somali militant group denies role in suicide bomb

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s most powerful Islamic militant group says it had nothing to do with a suicide bomb attack on a university graduation ceremony that killed 22 people.

Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage, a spokesman for the militant group al-Shabab, said Friday that his group is “very sad” about the attack.

The Thursday bombing ripped through a university graduate ceremony at an upscale hotel in Mogadishu, killing 22 people, including doctors, medical students and three government ministers.

Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for past suicide attacks in Somalia.

African troops protecting the government wage near daily battles with Islamic militants who hold much of central and southern Somalia.