Two explosions on a road near the main train station of the Turkish capital Ankara have killed at least 95 people and wounding 246. The blasts went off during a peaceful protest calling for an end to Turkey’s military operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, a Kurdish militant group.
No group or organization has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion. Authorities now believe the blasts were the result of suicide attacks as no vehicle was destroyed in the explosion, a Turkish official told Reuters. Another Turkish government official told AFP that the authorities "suspect that there is a terrorist connection."
The blasts took place where the Confederation of Public Sector Trades' Unions (KESK) and other labor unions were holding a demonstration to call for an end to the renewed conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state.
Momento de la explosión de una bomba durante una manifestación. Terrible vídeo. #Ankara pic.twitter.com/kJEe9rwZ0G
— Lau (@shul_evolution)
October 10, 2015
The pro-Kurdish HDP party, which was attending the rally, claimed that its members were deliberately targeted and hinted that the state was responsible.
“It should be indicated that there were no police around the crime scene when the explosion occurred. The riot arrived to the place after 15 minutes. But when they arrived, they attacked by tear gas bombs against the people who intended to help injured people,” a statement from the party read.
Emergency services raced to the scene following the blast at 10.05 a.m. local time.
#Turkey | There are bodies and wounded people lying in front of main train station after twin blasts in Ankara pic.twitter.com/eRz3FoyPf2
— ANADOLU AGENCY (ENG) (@anadoluagency)
October 10, 2015
The deadly conflict between the PKK and security forces has been raging since July, when the government of Ankara began airstrikes against alleged Islamic State group's targets in Syria as well as PKK positions in Turkey and Iraq after a bomb attack killed 32 people in Turkey.