Turkey suicide bombing updates: PKK claims responsibility, says report
Two men carry out a bomb attack, with one of them detonating himself, the Turkish interior minister says.
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- The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has accepted responsibility for the suicide bombing in Turkey’s capital Ankara on Sunday, according to a news website linked to the group.
- Two police officers have been injured in the bombing in front of the Ministry of the Interior and their wounds are not life-threatening, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
- Yerlikaya says in a post on social media that two attackers were responsible for the explosion.
- Both the attackers are dead – one detonated himself and the other was killed – according to Turkish authorities.
- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan describes the bombing as the “last flutters of terrorism”, adding that those behind such attacks would “never succeed”.
‘Treacherous terrorist attack’
Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan has condemned the suicide bombing in Ankara, calling it a “treacherous terrorist attack”.
“I wish a speedy recovery to our heroic police officers who were injured in this vile attack … We will continue our fight against terrorism with determination at home and abroad,” he posted on X.
US Secretary of State Blinken: ‘Reject terrorism in all its forms’
The United States condemns today’s attack at the Turkish Interior Ministry in Ankara. We wish those injured a speedy recovery. We reject terrorism in all its forms and stand firmly by our NATO Ally Türkiye and the Turkish people.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 1, 2023
Timeline: Previous attacks in Ankara
Turkey’s capital Ankara has seen several attacks in the past few years. Here is a list of several:
March 13, 2016 – Thirty-seven people were killed when a bomb-packed car exploded at a transport hub.
Feb 17, 2016 – Twenty-eight people were killed and dozens wounded when a car laden with explosives detonated next to military buses near the armed forces’ headquarters, parliament and other government buildings.
Oct 10, 2015 – Twin bombings in Ankara killed more than 100 people outside the city’s main train station. Turkish courts jailed perpetrators, who are believed to be linked to ISIL (ISIS), for life.
What is the PKK?
- The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a designated “terrorist” group in Turkey, the European Union, and the United States, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984.
- The goal of the PKK has been to create an independent socialist Kurdish state in a territory that it claims as Kurdistan – an area that includes parts of southeast Turkey.
- The conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK has killed tens of thousands of people, with the PKK and its offshoots carrying out numerous attacks on military, security forces and civilians; and Turkey conducting operations in southeastern parts of the country with the aim of forcing the PKK out.
- Turkey was hit by a string of deadly bombings between 2015 and 2017, some by ISIL (ISIS), and others by Kurdish fighters who seek increased autonomy or independence.
- Following those attacks, which left more than 500 civilians and security personnel dead, Turkey launched cross-border military operations into Syria and northern Iraq against Kurdish fighters, while also cracking down on Kurdish politicians, journalists and activists at home.
Interior minister hails police for stopping further explosions
Turkey’s interior minister credited police officers with preventing the second attacker from detonating explosives in Ankara.
Kurdish armed group PKK claims responsibility
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), outlawed by Turkey and its Western allies, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing in Ankara.
“A sacrificial action was carried out against the Turkish Interior Ministry by a team from our Immortal Brigade,” the PKK told Firat News Agency (ANF), which has been linked to the group.
‘NATO stands with Turkey’
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has strongly condemned the attack in Ankara.
“NATO stands in solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism,” Stoltenberg said in a post on X, wishing injured police officers a fast and full recovery.
I strongly condemn today’s terrorist attack on the Ministry of Interior in #Ankara, and wish a fast and full recovery for the police officers injured in the line of duty. #NATO stands in solidarity with #Türkiye in the fight against terrorism.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) October 1, 2023
US condemns Ankara attack
We strongly condemn the terrorist attack this morning against Türkiye, our NATO Ally. We offer our condolences to those injured and wish them a speedy recovery. We stand in solidarity with Türkiye against terrorism.
— U.S. Embassy Türkiye (@USEmbassyTurkey) October 1, 2023
Photos: Suicide blast in Ankara
Interior Minister Yerlikaya visits wounded police officers
Interior Minister Yerlikaya has visited the police officers who were wounded in Sunday’s attack at Ibni Sina Hospital in Ankara University.
He told reporters after the visit that one officer was lightly and the other one was moderately injured after the incident.
‘Dastardly terrorist attack’: Pakistani PM
Caretaker Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar says his country stands “in complete solidarity with our Turkish brothers and sisters in the fight against the scourge of terrorism”.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the dastardly terrorist attack in Ankara today,” he said on X.
“I have no doubt that under the dynamic leadership of my brother @RTErdogan, the resolute Turkish nation will emerge ever stronger from this challenge,” he added, using President Erdogan’s handle on the platform.
Pakistan strongly condemns the dastardly terrorist attack in Ankara today. We stand in complete solidarity with our Turkish brothers and sisters in the fight against the scourge of terrorism. I have no doubt that under the dynamic leadership of my brother @RTErdogan, the…
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) October 1, 2023
Saudi Arabia expresses support for Turkey after attack
Saudi Arabia has condemned the Ankara attack in the strongest terms, reiterating its support for all efforts aimed at eliminating “terrorism” and drying up its sources of financing.
The country’s foreign ministry issued a written statement on the bombing in Ankara on the X social media platform.
Saudi Arabia completely rejects all forms of “violence, terrorism and extremism”, the statement said.
‘Terrorists will never succeed’: Erdogan
President Erdogan says “terrorists” will never achieve their aims in Turkey in his address at the Turkish parliament.
“Today’s terrorist act in Ankara, in which two criminals were neutralised thanks to timely intervention of police, is last flutters of terrorism,” Erdogan said.
“Terrorists trying to destroy peace and citizens’ security will never succeed,” he said.
He added that the burden of instilling morale in “terrorist” groups with political calculations will be very heavy.
Erdogan speaks in first parliamentary session after break
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is speaking during the first session the Turkish parliament after an almost three-month hiatus.
The address comes hours after an attack on the interior ministry, located very close to the parliament building.
EU foreign policy chief Borrell expresses solidarity with Turkey
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has condemned the attack in the Turkish capital and expressed solidarity with the country.
“We express solidarity with Turkiye and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he said on the social media platform X.
The EU condemns the terrorist attack on the Turkish Ministry of Interior in Ankara, wounding several policemen.
We express solidarity with Türkiye and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 1, 2023
Turkish parliament starts new term hours after attack
The session of the Turkish parliament after an almost three-month hiatus starts hours after the blast.
Numan Kurtulmus, the speaker of parliament, addressed the session in an opening speech.
Where did the suicide bomber strike?
Albania and Kosovo condemn Ankara attack
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has “strongly” condemned the attack in Ankara, saying “it should help many in Europe to better understand and support Turkiye in its fight against terrorism”.
“Saddened to hear about the terrorist attacks in Ankara, Turkiye, but relieved to learn that the intended damage was largely averted by Turkish institutions,” said Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
Sweden ‘appalled’ by suicide bombing
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom has condemned the attack in Ankara, saying he was “appalled by the suicide bomb”.
“Sweden stands firm in its long-term commitment and partnership with Turkiye to fight all kinds of terrorism,” he wrote on social media platform X. “I wish those injured a speedy recovery.”
Turkey and Sweden have had a tense relationship, fraught with differences. Turkey has accused Sweden of allowing groups it accuses of “terrorism” to thrive on its soil. Ankara has held up Stockholm’s entry into NATO.
Appalled by the sucide bomb in Ankara this morning. Sweden 🇸🇪 stands firm in its long-term commitment and partnership with Türkiye 🇹🇷 to fight all kinds of terrorism. I wish those injured a speedy recovery. @HakanFidan
— Tobias Billström (@TobiasBillstrom) October 1, 2023
Hijacked vehicle used in attack: Official
A senior Turkish official has told Reuters that the attackers hijacked a vehicle and killed its driver in Kayseri, a city 260km (161 miles) southeast of Ankara, before carrying out the attack.
One of the injured officers suffered shrapnel injuries, he reportedly added.
First attack in Ankara since 2016
The capital has been the scene of several attacks, particularly in the years 2015 and 2016.
Many of those were claimed by the outlawed separatist group the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) or the ISIL (ISIS).
The PKK, which has waged an armed rebellion against the Turkish state since 1984, is blacklisted as a “terrorist” group by Ankara and its Western allies.
In October 2015, an attack by ISIL in front of a central station in Ankara killed 109 people.
Egypt condemns attack in Ankara
Egypt has strongly condemned the attack targeting Turkey’s interior ministry and expressed its solidarity with Turkey, its government and its people.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the ministry’s official Facebook page that it condemned in the strongest terms “the terrorist attack” in Ankara, according to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency.
The statement also expressed Cairo’s firm position in rejecting all forms of “terrorism” and violence that lead to instability and intimidation of citizens.
Police officers wounded in attack not in life-threatening condition: Minister
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has said police officers wounded in the attack had not suffered life-threatening injuries.
He said on X: “The treatment of our heroic police officers Alim Reis Demirel and Erkan Karatas… continues. Fortunately, they are not in life-threatening condition. I wish our heroes a speedy recovery.”