Mogadishu — Al-Shabaab is keeping to its promise to inflict violence during Ramadan with its latest attack against the Turkish Embassy complex in Mogadishu at the weekend.

Somali and Turkish leaders immediately condemned the July 27th attack, and vowed that it would not shake their resolve to fight terrorism and build on the partnership the two countries have forged over the past few years.

At least six people were killed in the attack, including a Turkish security guard, two Somali civilians and three al-Shabaab militants, local embassy staffer Abdi Mohamed told Sabahi. Nine people were injured, including four members of the Turkish security force that was charged with protecting the complex.

The attack started when an al-Shabaab suicide bomber detonated a car bomb at the entrance of the complex. Two armed al-Shabaab fighters then tried to enter the complex but were intercepted by Turkish security forces and killed before they gained access to the building, according to local employees working with the Turkish mission who spoke with Sabahi.

In an attempt to justify the attack, al-Shabaab posted a message on Twitter calling Turkey "anything but Islamic".

"The Turkish are part of a group of nations bolstering the apostate regime and attempting to suppress the establishment of Islamic Shari'ah," it said.

Al-Shabaab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage vowed that the militant group would continue to target Turkish people in Somalia.

"The mujahedeen will continue their attacks targeting the offices of Turkish employees in Mogadishu unless Turkey stops its intervention in Somalia's affairs," Rage said in a statement broadcasted by Andalus Radio, the mouthpiece for the group.

Rage described Turkish relief workers and diplomats in Somalia as infidels "who have truly caused the Muslim people, particularly in Somalia, a lot of problems and have plotted against them".

"It is possible that many among the people will ask themselves why the Turkish people, who are Muslims, were attacked, but we want to make it clear to the people that Turkey has abandoned Islam and God's religion," he said. "They have attacked the home of the Muslims."

An unjustifiable aggression

The attack drew widespread condemnation from Somali, Turkish and international leaders, as well as from Somali citizens.

"This aggression against Turkish employees who came to Somalia to help Somalis cannot be justified at all," said Mohamed Osman, a retired officer from the National Intelligence and Security Agency.

"Turkish employees who were subjected to this horrible aggression are not soldiers but civilians who are carrying out a noble humanitarian mission in our country," Osman told Sabahi. "They have been working non-stop to help the people of Somalia and so this horrendous act cannot be justified in any way."

"All Somalis condemn this ugly act, which again reveals the malicious intentions of the terrorists," he said. "The attack against Turkish employees in Mogadishu represents an attack against the Somali people."

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud described the attack as "an act of cowardly desperation by terrorists who care nothing for peace and stability in Somalia", as he offered his condolences to the people and government of Turkey.

"I condemn this criminal act of terrorism and my government and security forces will do everything it can to catch those who planned and directed it," Mohamud said in a statement soon after the attack.

"We must continue to stand firm against those who seek to destroy this country and, with the brave support of our allies, we must double our efforts to deliver the peaceful future the Somali people so desperately want," he said.

Mohamud lauded Turkey's assistance to Somalia, calling the Turkish government one of Somalia's "most determined and dependable allies".

Turkey launched a massive diplomatic, economic and humanitarian campaign two years ago and has played a significant role in reconstruction efforts in Somalia.

Turkish Airlines became the first international airline in two decades to operate regular flights to Mogadishu and there are hundreds of Turkish relief workers in Mogadishu.

"Many Turks have come to Somalia to help our recovery," Mohamud said. "We have new schools and hospitals because of their extraordinary work."

Al-Shabaab's contradiction

"This act proves again the opposite of what the terrorist militant groups claimed they were fighting for," said Omar Foodaadi, 49, a political analyst in Mogadishu.

"Al-Shabaab would tell its sympathisers that it was waging a holy war against the infidels but in reality it was targeting innocent Muslims during the blessed month of Ramadan as it clearly demonstrated, once again, its disregard of human life by targeting innocent civilians from a Muslim country," he said.

"Terrorists are always trying to thwart the progress that Somalia is witnessing because they do not want a Somali state to be established," Foodaadi told Sabahi. "They are people who benefit from chaos but chaos does not last forever."

People in Mogadishu expressed grave concern about the indiscriminate threats and suicide attacks al-Shabaab is inflicting on citizens.

"I was deeply shocked when I heard on the news about the suicide attack and the threats al-Shabaab is making against the Turkish relief agencies that have been helping us," Adam Bile, a 56-year-old father of four who lives in the Tarabuunka camp for displaced persons in Mogadishu, told Sabahi. "They are our Muslim brothers and I see this as a wound to our need for assistance from Muslim people."

Amina Hirsi, a 41-year-old mother of seven who lives in Badbado camp in Mogadishu, questioned al-Shabaab's motive of targeting Turkish aid workers and diplomats.

"I am confused about whether the leaders of al-Shabaab lost their minds when they were removed from Mogadishu and saw the changes in security and the return of aid availability for the people, or if they cannot understand the meaning of the religious goals they claim to be fighting for," she told Sabahi.

"I am sorry that the al-Shabaab terrorists attacked our Turkish brothers," she said.

"Whatever happened, I believe we felt the same pain that our Turkish brothers felt," said Habiba Dahir, a 35-year-old mother of three who also lives in Badbado camp.

"I realised when al-Shabaab attacked our Muslim brothers that it is proof of how al-Shabaab wants to inflict harm on any Muslim who wants to help us," she told Sabahi. "They have lost the way to jihad that God explained to us in the religion. I would say to the Muslim nations, do not stand by and watch the problems al-Shabaab is inflicting on us, but try to help us."

Solidarity strong between Somalia, Turkey

Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, Minister of Interior Abdikarin Hussein Gulled, Defense Minister Abdihakin Haji Mohamud Fiqi, Finance Minister Mohamud Awil Suleiman and other Somali government officials visited the site of the explosion Sunday to show solidarity with Turkey and to condemn the suicide attack.

"Such failed terrorist acts will not affect the relationship between Somalia and Turkey and will not derail the path of progress, which has been achieved throughout Somalia," Shirdon said in a joint press conference with Turkish Ambassador to Somalia Kani Torun.

Shirdon also emphasised solidarity of the Somali people and government with the families of the Turkish victims who lost their loved ones as a result of this attack.

"We will never stop our tireless efforts to help Somali people recover from years of turmoil and the ongoing Turkey-funded developmental projects will be completed," Torun said.

Director General at the Somali Ministry of Interior and National Security Hussein Abdi Aden said the government was determined to protect foreign diplomatic missions in Somalia.

"Targeting Turkish civilian employees shows a lack of respect on the part of terrorists for human life and foreign diplomats who have come to Somalia to help our people," he told Sabahi.

"This terrorist act is characterised by a high degree of cowardice," he said. "Terrorists are targeting Turkish civilian workers because of the role Turkey plays in assisting the Somali people."