Near the government district: Explosion in the Turkish capital Ankara

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The Turkish capital Ankara was shocked by an explosion on Sunday morning around 9:30 am local time (8:30 am Swiss time). As CNN Türk reports, the explosion is said to have occurred near the government district. The entrances to Parliament are currently closed. Shots can also be heard and heavily armed police can be seen in videos circulating on social media. There are many police and rescue vehicles on site.

Immediately after the incident, Minister of the Interior Ali Yerlikaya (54) spoke about a bomb attack. Two terrorists bombed a van. The attack took place at the entrance to the Ministry of the Interior in the center of the capital, the minister said. The center was largely cordoned off.

Attack in the government district

One of the terrorists blew himself up, the other was “neutralized.” Two police officers were slightly injured.

According to broadcaster NTV, the explosion also took place just a few hundred meters from an entrance to parliament. The committee will meet on Sunday for the first time since the summer recess. According to the plan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (69) would also participate in the opening meeting in the early afternoon.

Broadcaster NTV reported that parliament was being searched by security forces for explosives. It was initially unclear who was behind the attack. Initially, nothing was known about the identity of the attackers.

Attacks in Turkey are not uncommon

The Public Prosecution Service has opened an investigation. In addition, a news blackout was imposed on the subject, state news agency Anadolu reported on Sunday.

There have been repeated attacks in Turkey in the past. In November 2022, a bomb exploded in Istanbul’s Istiklal shopping street, killing six people. According to the Turkish government, the attacker had ties to the Syrian Kurdish militia YPG, which the Turkish government views as an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK. The YPG denied being behind the attack. In 2016, twelve Germans were killed in a suicide bombing by the Islamic State terrorist militia in the historic center of Istanbul. (no)

Source: Blick