TURKISH AID WORKER INJURED IN DEADLY SOMALIA ATTACK

Ankara, 22 Rabi’ul Awwal 1437/2 January 2016 (MINA) – Turkish aid workers were caught up in an armed attack in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu that left one local dead on Friday, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said.

A Turkish national was among four injured in the gun attack outside a mosque in the northwest of the city, local sources said. The ministry’s statement referred only to a wounded Turk and a Somalian who was killed, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“An attack was perpetrated against Turkish non-governmental organization workers that offer humanitarian aid in Mogadishu during noon hours,” the ministry said.

“We wish God’s mercy on the Somalian national who lost their life, convey our sympathies to their families and wish a speedy recovery to our wounded national.”

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but al-Shabab extremists affiliated to al-Qaeda have carried out similar attacks in the past.

Turkey has strong ties to the Horn of Africa nation and Turkish aid agencies are involved in numerous development projects. (T/P010/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)