Police intelligence reports released by the Turkish media have revealed that the al-Shabaab terrorists, who have claimed responsibility for previous attacks targeting Turks in Somalia, now plan to carry out attacks in Turkey, a major donor to the impoverished and conflict-ridden Somalia.
Turkey's Milliyet daily reported that the terrorist organization is active in Somalia and has carried out two attacks targeting Turks in that country before, and plans to use its members and supporters in Turkey for the attacks.
Police warned units across the country about suspected members of the group infiltrating Turkey, according to the report by the daily. One of these suspected militants, known only as "Asad" and his alias, "Bihaari," is the alleged mastermind of impending attacks in Turkey. Intelligence reports note that Bihaari crossed into Syria from Turkey after a brief stay in Istanbul and was planning to return to Turkey when he arrived from Somalia.
According to the report, other suspects include Ahmed Ibraahim Barlex and a suspect identified as D.X. Barlex, who studied in Turkey and plans to carry out a bomb attack. D.X. is linked to Abdi Roxin, a senior member of the al-Shabaab who reportedly trained the suspect in how to use explosives.
An intelligence report has urged police units throughout the country to be on alert.
Speaking to Al Jazeera last year, Sheikh Cali Dheere, a spokesman for the terrorist organization, branded Turkey and Turkish nationals as "legitimate targets" of the group. He stated that Turkey was part of NATO, "the biggest enemy of Muslims," adding that NATO uses Turkey as a hammer to crush Muslims. "Anywhere we see Turkish people, they are no different to us than the Americans and the British," Dheere told Al Jazeera.
Al-Shabaab's opposition to Turkey stems from Turkey's close cooperation with the Somalian government in its fight against Mogadishu.
Turkey is one of the few non-African countries to extend help to Somalia, which has been ravaged by conflicts and famine for decades. During his tenure as prime minister in 2011, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan became the first leader outside of the African continent to visit Somalia, where security continues to deteriorate. On Jan. 22, a car bomb exploded at the gates of a Mogadishu hotel where a group of Turkish delegates were holding a meeting, killing two local police officers.
