RT reports that a ‘terrorist attack in the Turkish capital, Ankara, has killed at least three people and left 15 others injured on Tuesday [, 20 September]. An explosive-laden car detonated in the downtown area of the city, spreading fire around the vicinity. The blast reportedly occurred on a vehicle in front of the Çankaya local administrator’s office close to Ankara’s downtown Kızılay Square. Several other vehicles could be seen engulfed in flames in the capital following the explosion. A few vehicles were damaged and glass in the windows of several nearby buildings shattered. Police and firefighters cordoned off the site immediately after the explosion. Police feared a second explosion may occur after they had received a warning of two more explosive devices planted nearby and were searching for them, according to local press. A school which is located across the street was used as a first aid post’.[1]
Apparently, the main culprit regarding terrorist attacks in Turkey has already denied any involvement: the ‘Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) denied any responsibility for today’s explosion in Ankara Çankaya district, close to several governmental buildings’, as reported by Idris Abu Bakir from Sulaimaniyah in the KRG.[2] Ahmet Deniz, a spokesman for the PKK, said: “We did not carry out today’s bombing in Ankara. The PKK has nothing to do with it”. In addition, Dozdas Hamo, the military commander of PKK’s military wing HPG, stated categorically that “We only heard of this bombing in the media. We had no plans for such an explosion”. [3]
Still, the English-language Turkish daily Today’s Zaman reports that ‘[p]olice are not ruling out the possibility that the blast may have been a terrorist attack carried out by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has recently stepped up its terrorist activities. The PKK, which has killed more than 50 people in the past few months, has been declared a terrorist organization by the international community, including the US and the EU’.[4]
[1] “Turkish capital rocked by terror attack, 3 dead” RT (20 September 2011). http://rt.com/news/turkey-ankara-blast-casualties-931/.
[2] Idris Abu Bakir, “PKK denies involvement in Ankara bombing” AKNews (20 September 2011). http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/262837/,
[3] Idris Abu Bakir,, “PKK denies involvement in Ankara bombing”.
[4] “Major blast rocks Turkish capital’s downtown, 3 killed” Today’s Zaman (20 September 2011). http://www.todayszaman.com/news-257342-major-blast-rocks-turkish-capitals-downtown-3-killed.html.
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