Suicide bombing kills three, wounds over 20 in Somalia

MOGADISHU - Anadolu Agency

At least three people were killed and 20 others, including Turkish nationals, injured after a suicide car bomb blast targeted a police convoy escorting Turkish contractors in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Jan. 18, said officials.

Somali government spokesman Ismail Mukhtar Oronjo confirmed the attack to Anadolu Agency over the phone. The attack happened in the town of Afgoye, lower Shabelle region.

"It's very early to say how many have been killed in the attack but what we know is several people including soldiers were killed and 20 others wounded and casualties could rise," he said.

He also said among those injured were Somalia's deputy commander of special forces.

Meanwhile, Bashir Ahmed, a police official in Afgoye, said that three people, including soldiers, were killed in the attack.

According to Turkey's Embassy in Mogadishu, four staffers of a Turkish construction firm were injured in the attack.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Meanwhile, Turkey condemned the “terrorist bomb attack” on civilians in Somalia. 

"We curse and condemn the terrorist attack which targeted innocent civilians in Somalia and injured 11 civilians, including four Turkish citizens," the Defense Ministry said on Twitter.

"Turkey will continue to stand by its Somali brothers in their fight against terrorism," it said. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also condemned the attack, adding on Twitter: "The attack in Somalia will not deter our fight against terrorism."

Çavuşoğlu wished a quick recovery for the injured, saying Turkey will closely watch their condition, including those being treated in a Turkish-built hospital in Mogadishu.

Last week, at least three people were killed when a roadside bombing targeted security forces guarding Turkish nationals who were working for road construction outside Mogadishu.

On Dec. 28, at least 85 people, including two Turkish nationals, were killed and over 150 others wounded in a truck suicide attack in Mogadishu, in another attack claimed by al-Shabaab.

Turkey has strong historical ties with Somalia on the principle of “win-win” relations, including over 150 development aid projects carried out by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency [TİKA] since 2011.