By Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa
MOGADISHU, Somalia – A car loaded with explosives drove into an office housing Turkish embassy staff in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing three people and injuring nine.
Al-Shabaab, the Somali Islamist group, claims it carried out the attack on its Twitter feed.
“Mujahideen forced in Mogadishu have just carried out an operation targeting a group of Turkish diplomats in Hodan district,” al-Shabaab posted.
Al-Shabaab state they targeted Turkey because of their support for the Somali government and wanted to stop the establishment of Sharia. This has not been the first time this group has targeted Turkish institutions.
A diplomat in Istanbul told AFP that the Turkish guards were able to kill two of the attackers before a third was able to detonate his vehicle.
One Turkish security officer was killed when the mission’s guards clashed with the attackers as they tried to enter the complex, one Turkish government official told Reuters.
“Turkey is very active in Somalia and when you are very active you become a target quite easily,” the diplomat told AFP.
Somalia’s government is being backed by international aid aimed at preventing al Qaeda-linked militants from entering in east Africa.
Turkey has given Somalia more than $400 million in aid since 2011 in an effort to help Somalia, most of the money coming from private companies.
These Al Qaeda-linked Shebaab insurgents have carried out multiple bombings and attacks that have ended in many deaths in an attempt to overthrow the internationally backed government.
Later this same day, unknown insurgents carried a bomb into a nearby hotel in central Mogadishu killing two people and wounding around ten.
In June this group attacked a main UN compound in Somalia’s capital, killing 22.
“All the Mujahideen who carried out the operation have returned safely back to their bases inside Mogadishu, preparing for the next operation,” al-Shebaab also stated on its Twitter feed.
“This cowardly act will not shake our commitment to continue working for the brighter, more democratic and prosperous future the people of Somalia deserve,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.
For more information, please visit:
The Peninsula — Attack on Turkey mission in Somalia kills three — 28 July 2013
The Times of India — Suicide attack on Mogadishu Turkish compound kills two — 28 July 2013
Reuters — UPDATE 4-Al Shabaab claim attack on Turkish mission in Somalia, three dead — 28 July 2013
The Jerusalem Post — Car bomb hits Turkish staff building in Somali capital, 3 dead — 27 July 2013
BBC News — Deadly bomb hits Turkish target in Mogadishu — 27 July 2013
Yahoo! News — Suicide attack on Mogadishu Turkish compound kills two — 27 July 2013
