Somalia condemns terrorist attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has strongly condemned Wednesday's terror attack in Turkey, noting that the loss of life was completely 'unnecessary' at the time the world is investing in the silence of guns and peacekeeping missions where Ankara is a major stakeholder.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somalia’s president, said the country was deeply concerned with the attack while wishing quick recovery to those critically injured in the attack that targeted Aerospace Industries in Ankara.

"President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a phone call with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Türkiye. During the call, the President extended his heartfelt condolences over the recent terrorist attack at Turkish Aerospace Industries in Ankara," Villa Somalia reports.

"He expressed deep sorrow for the tragic loss of lives and wished a full and swift recovery to the injured. Somalia stands in solidarity with the brotherly people and Government of Türkiye in their fight against terrorism."

According to reports from Ankara, an attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) on the outskirts of Ankara left five people dead and 22 wounded, with the Ministry of Interior reaffirming its commitment to assist the affected countries.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said "two terrorists" had been "neutralized" during the incident, which he described as a "terror attack".

Turkish sources familiar with the attack told Middle East Eye that two attackers, a man and a woman, hijacked a taxi and approached the gates of TAI, which employs over 15,000 people.

The attackers are believed to have killed a taxi driver that took them to the scene of the attack, before detonating a bomb at the entrance and clashing with a security guard. One of the attackers was able to enter the premises as staff hurried to bomb shelters.

"The attacker then tried to enter the human resources department and the academy," one source told MEE, adding: "Eleven hostages were later released after a special forces operation that included a gunfight and explosions."

The source said that the operation against the attackers had ended.

Yerlikaya later told media that the initial information indicated that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an armed group that is designated as a terror group by Turkey, the US, the UK, and the European Union, was behind the attack, The Middle East Eye adds.

"We assess that the way this action took place and the images we watched, most likely point out the PKK," he said.

GAROWE ONLINE