Residents donate blood to assist victims video photo

29 Dekabr 2019 16:15 | 1 626

Mogadishu residents are donating blood to assist at least 125 people who were injured by a massive truck bomb attack. The truck bomb exploded at a busy security checkpoint in Somalia's capital on Saturday morning, killing at least 79 people including many students, authorities said, SIA reports referring to TRT World.

Two Turkish nationals are among the dead, Somalia's foreign minister said, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack. It was the worst attack in Mogadishu since the devastating 2017 bombing that killed hundreds

Aamin Ambulance service director Abdiqadir Abdulrahman said hundreds of Mogadishu residents have responded to desperate appeals to donate blood to save injured victims. The explosion ripped through rush hour as Somalia returned to work after its weekend.

Most of those killed were university students returning to class and police officers, said Somalia's police chief General Abdi Hassan Hijar. He said the vehicle detonated after police at the checkpoint blocked it from proceeding into the city. Somalis mourned the deaths of so many young people in a country trying to rebuild itself after decades of conflict. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but al Shabab often carries out such attacks.

Erdogan condemns 'terrorist attack'

"I condemn the terror attack in Mogadishu, I wish Allah's mercy upon two Turkish citizens and Somalian brothers who lost their lives and speedy recovery for those who were injured," Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote on Twitter. Offering his condolences to the Turkish nation and Somali people, Erdogan said: "Turkey always stands by Somalia."

"Treacherous terrorist attack killed two of our Turkish citizens along with our innocent Somalian brothers and sisters. I pray for God's mercy. We will always stand by our brothers in Somalia. Our struggle against terror will continue with determination," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a statement.

"Our airplane loaded with emergency aid equipment and material belonging to the Turkish Armed Forces departed from Kayseri in order to provide emergency aid to our Somalian brothers injured in the despicable terror attack in Somalia," the Turkish defence ministry said.