A male suicide bomber dressed as a woman attacked a university graduation ceremony in the Somali capital, killing at least 15 people. The dead included three Cabinet ministers and three journalists.

Somali Information Minister, Dahir Mohamud Gelle, confirmed that the ministers for education, higher education, and health were killed in the blast, calling it a national disaster.

On Thursday, more than three dozen students had gathered to receive their diplomas at the ceremony in the Shamo Hotel. Attendees were sitting on plastic chairs facing a small stage when the bomb went off.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion has fallen on the militant group al-Shabab. It has ties to al-Qaida, controls much of the country and has carried out past suicide attacks.

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