Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki

Sheik Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki (also known as Hassan Al-Turki, or "Al-Turki"–"The Turk"), an Islamist leader in Somalia, is a military leader in the Islamic Courts Union and formerly a leader of Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya. He is from the Ogaden clan, Reer - Abdille subclan. On June 3, 2004, Hassan Al-Turki was designated, under US Presidential Executive Order 13224, for terrorist financing. [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2004/33128.htm Designation of Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki under Executive Order 13224] US Department of State] He was born in 1944 in the Ogaden region in Ethiopia. [http://harowo.com/2006/10/26/islamist-radicals-still-on-the-march-in-somalia/ Islamist Radicals Still on the March in Somalia] Harowo.com, October 26, 2006] It is believed that after the loss of the Ogaden War, he left Ethiopia to continue his revolutionary efforts in Somalia. [http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370058 New Islamist Leaders Emerge in Somalia] Jamestown Foundation]

Turki was targeted in a US fighter jet strike on March 2nd, 2008. US fighter jets struck the southern Somali town of Dobley. The bombings by the AC-130 gunships targeted two homes in the town that were allegedly visited by Turki, who is believed to have ties to al-Qaeda. [ [http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/189525,us-gunships-attack-southern-somali-town-witnesses-say.html US gunships attack southern Somali town, witnesses say : Africa World ] ]

Hassan Al-Turki became a military leader of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), and has been in charge of Dhobley district near the Kenyan border. [http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne1505.htm Somalia’s Islamic Courts attain Afmadow in Lower Jubba region] Shabelle.net, October 3, 2006] He led the forces of the ICU in the taking of Jubaland.

On September 23 2006, his forces approached Jilib, en route to Kismayo. Juba Valley Alliance forces withdrew without a fight. [http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/4029 Somalia: Islamic militants advancing to Kismayo] SomaliNet] After the city fell, on September 24, he promised peace to the city after Islamic militiamen broke up an anti-Islamist demonstration with gunfire, killing three teenagers. [http://somalinet.com/news/world/Somalia/4044 Somalia: Islamists shooting kills people in Kismayo protest] SomaliNet] (Also see: ) Al-Turki addressed people in Kismayo telling them the region would be under the Islamic law. “This city is seized by Islamic forces including all tribes of Somali men, welcome to the new peace brought to this city and I promise you will live in security and prosperity,” Sheikh Hassan Al-Turki said. [http://alphabetcity.blogspot.com/2006/09/flag-of-caliphate-now-flies-over.html Flag of the Caliphate Now Flies Over Kismayo] September 25, 2006]

Hassan Turki evaded capture by Somalia's transitional government since the Islamic Courts were forced from power by Somali and Ethiopian troops. In September 2007, he was running a military training camp on the Kenyan-Somali border. [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/902CC899-35D8-48B0-911F-B18BAF6F0616.htm Al Jazeera English - News - Islamic Courts 'Preparing To Fight' ] ]

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* [http://press.jrc.it/NewsExplorer/entities/en/446000.html EMM NewsExplorer]

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