Ankara blast: At least 28 dead in Turkish capital explosion

Firefighters work at a scene of fire from an explosion in Ankara

A large explosion in the Turkish capital, Ankara, has left at least 28 people dead and 61 injured, Turkish officials have said.
A vehicle full of explosives was detonated as military buses were passing by, according to the Ankara governor's office.
The blast happened in an area close to parliament and Turkey's military headquarters.
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag called it an "act of terrorism".
Large plumes of smoke were seen rising from the area and witnesses said the blast was heard all over the city.
Map showing approximate location of blast, between Merasim Street and Ismet Inonu Boulevard
Ambulances and fire engines were sent to the scene.
Security forces carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect package after the blast.

'Dark mood across Turkey' - by Selin Girit, in Istanbul

"Enough is enough! Do not kill any more! Do not make the people of this country sad anymore…"
Just one tweet summarising the dark mood across Turkey.
Hundreds of people have been offering their condolences to the relatives of the dead, condemning the attack, posting pictures and videos of the aftermath of the scene on social media.
The attack targeted a shuttle bus carrying military personnel, and there were several other military vehicles nearby - all of which were waiting at the traffic lights. Most of the casualties are believed to be soldiers.
The Turkish army strongly condemned the attack and called this "a treacherous terror act". The government and the opposition parties have also strongly condemned the incident.
In October, over a hundred people were killed in simultaneous explosions targeting a peace march in Ankara. That attack had polarised society further.
Whether Turkey can unify in pain this time round is yet to be seen.

Turkey's Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has cancelled a trip to Brussels.
Turkey has been hit by a serious of attacks recently, and there have been increasing concerns that the country could be targeted by another big attack, the BBC's Selin Girit in Istanbul reports.
Emergency services at the scene following explosion in AnkaraImage copyrightEPA
Image captionLarge plumes of smoke were seen rising from the scene of the blast
It is not clear who was behind the latest violence; security sources blamed both so-called Islamic State (IS) and militants from the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Reuters reported.
A government spokesman said the attack has been well planned.

Recent attacks in Turkey

  • January 2016: At least 10 people, mostly German tourists, are killed in a suspected IS suicide bombing in Istanbul
  • October 2015: More than a hundred people are killed in a double-suicide bombing at a Kurdish peace rally in Ankara
  • July 2015: In the predominantly Kurdish town of Suruc, near the Syrian border, over 30 people are killed in a suicide bombing, again blamed on IS

The PKK has been fighting for autonomy for Turkey's Kurdish minority for decades and has carried out regular attacks on Turkish security forces.
The blast in Ankara comes as Turkey steps up its involvement in the conflict in neighbouring Syria.
It has been shelling the Kurdish YPG militia in northern Syria, who it sees as allied to the PKK.
Turkey has also allowed the coalition bombing IS to use one of its air bases.


. . . Courtesy ::: BBC
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