Monday, July 29, 2013
A Turkish security official and a Somali student were killed in
Saturday’s attack on the Turkish consulate and relief mission in
Mogadishu, Somalia’s prime minister said Sunday.
Three suicide bombers also died in the attack on Saturday, said
Abdi Farah Shirdon, who also condemned the violence. He said acts of
terrorism will not affect Somalia’s relationship with Turkey.
“Our friends and partners station(ed) in Mogadishu are very
important for the speedy recovery of Somalia and we have to protect them
by all means,” Shirdon said.
Somali militant group al-Shabab has
claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter saying they were
targeting a group of Turkish diplomats. The group said the operation was
not a suicide attack and that those who carried out the attack had
safely gone back to their bases.
The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab
espouses a strict form of Islam and has long been threatening Turkish
workers and aid agencies in Somalia accusing them of spreading
secularism.
Police officer Mohammed Abdi had said Saturday the
terror attack took place at the Turkish hospital known as Al-Shifa after
a suicide bomber detonated a mini-van laden with explosives. It is
unclear why the officials referred to the same area by different names,
except that the buildings may be in the same compound.
Turkey is
playing a big role in Somalia’s reconstruction. Turkish Airline is the
first international airline to fly direct to Mogadishu. Turkish Red
Crescent aid workers have been undertaking development projects,
including street renovations and the construction of schools. Turkish
aid workers are also rebuilding one of Somalia’s biggest hospitals.
Recent
attacks by Islamic insurgents on Somalia’s capital has forced
investors, businessmen and aid workers to have second thoughts about
expanding operations in Mogadishu.
In May, a Somali official said
the Turkish Red Crescent was reviewing its operation, because of
security concerns after a series of attacks. Omer Tasli, the head of the
Turkish Red Crescent while admitting security is concern, said they
would not pull out.