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Civilian Killed as Suicide Bomber Attacks Turkey Military Training Center in
Somalia

Harun Maruf

   One person was killed, and two others were injured after a suicide
   bomber blew himself up near the Turkey-Somalia military training
   academy in Mogadishu on Tuesday, witnesses and officials say.

   The incident occurred outside aprimaryschoolsupported bythe academy,
   according to witnesses.

   The bomber, strapped with a suicide vest, tried to join a line
   ofmilitarycadets outside the military training facility known
   asTurkSom. Members of Somali National Army guarding the facility opened
   fire after they suspected him, but the man detonated his suicide vest.

   A civilian bystander was killed, and two cadets were injured according
   to the officials.

   The al-Shabab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. The
   Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the bombing.

   Turkey inaugurated the military facility in Somalia's capital on Sept.
   30, 2017. It's the largest overseas military training academy built by
   the Turkish government.

   Four battalions of the Somali National Army have graduated from
   theTurkSomfacility so far, and the fifth iscurrently being trained at
   the facility,according toTurkishofficials.

   A total of 150 officers and 250 non-commissioned officers also
   graduated fromTurkSomsince 2018.

   Somali military officials say the facility has been key to rebuilding
   the Somali National Army as some of the battalions who graduated have
   already been fighting Shabab militants in Lower Shabelle region.

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