Two bomb explosions yesterday targeting a peace rally by leftist and Kurdish activists in the Turkish capital Ankara killed at least 86 people and injured 126 others, the Turkish Ministry of the Interior said.
The explosions occurred minutes apart outside Ankara’s main train station as hundreds of people were gathering for the rally, organized by the nation’s public sector workers’ trade union and other civic society groups. The rally aimed to call for increased democracy and an end to the renewed violence between Kurdish rebels and Turkish security forces.
Authorities said they were investigating whether the attacks — which hit about 50m apart from each other — were suicide bombings. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Photo: Reuters
The attacks came at a tense time for the NATO-member country, which is to hold a general election on Nov. 1.
Authorities had been on alert after Turkey agreed to take a more active role in the US-led battle against the Islamic State group, opening up its bases to US aircraft to launch air raids on the group in Syria, while carrying out a limited number of strikes on the group itself.
Turkish jets have also carried out numerous airstrikes on Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq. About 150 police and soldiers and hundreds of rebels of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have been killed since July when the conflict flared anew.
A journalist at the scene yesterday reported seeing several bodies covered with bloodied flags and banners that demonstrators had brought with them for the rally.
Television footage from Turkey’s Dogan news agency showed a line of protesters fanned out on the street near the train station, chanting and performing a traditional dance with their hands locked, when a large explosion hit behind them.
The video also showed several people later lying injured on the streets or being taken into ambulances. Scuffles broke out between police and people frantically searching for loved ones or complaining about the police response. Small anti-government protests broke out at the scene of the explosions and outside of hospitals as Turkish Minister of the Interior Minister Selami Altinok visited.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attacks, which he said targeted the country’s unity and peace, and called for solidarity.
“The greatest and most meaningful response to this attack is the solidarity and determination we will show against it,” Erdogan said.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held an emergency security meeting to discuss the attack. His office said he was suspending his election campaign programs for the next three days.
It was the third attack targeting meetings of Kurdish activists. In July, a suicide bombing blamed on the Islamic State group killed 33 peace activists, including many Kurds, in the town of Suruc near Turkey’s border with Syria.
The attack came amid reports that the PKK was preparing to announce a unilateral cease-fire that would last until the Nov. 1 election. The government has dismissed the possible ceasefire plans, saying the rebels must lay down their arms and leave the Turkish territory.
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