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February 2016 Ankara bombing

Coordinates: 39°54′55″N 32°50′26″E / 39.9154°N 32.8406°E / 39.9154; 32.8406
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February 2016 Ankara bombing
The site of the attack, Merasim Street
LocationAnkara, Turkey
Coordinates39°54′55″N 32°50′26″E / 39.9154°N 32.8406°E / 39.9154; 32.8406
Date17 February 2016
18:31 (UTC+2)
TargetMilitary personnel
Attack type
Car bombing, suicide bombing
Deaths14 civilian employees of Turkish Armed Forces
14 Officers and soldiers
1 civilian
1 perpetrator
Total: 30[1][2][3][4]
Injured60[5]
PerpetratorKurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK)[6]

On 17 February 2016, in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, at least 30 people died and 60 were injured in a bombing.[5] According to Turkish authorities, the attack targeted a convoy of shuttles carrying both civilian and military personnel working at the military headquarters during the evening rush hour[8] as the vehicles were stopped at traffic lights at an intersection with Inönü boulevard close to Kızılay neighborhood. Several ministries, the headquarters of the army and the Turkish Parliament are located in the neighborhood where the attack occurred.[9][10][11] The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) claimed responsibility for the attack, however Turkish governemment considers PKK/YPG as the attacker.

Background

Further information: Syrian Civil War, Kurdish rebellions in Turkey, and PKK rebellion (2015–present)

In October 2015, a bombing at a peace rally in Ankara against a crackdown on Kurds in the country amidst the renewed PKK rebellion following a breakdown of the ceasefire killed over 100 people. On 13 February, Turkish shelling of Kurdish positions in response to "incoming Kurdish fire" and against the backdrop of YPG territorial gains in northern Syria[12][13] led, at the request of Russia, to a UN briefing in which the president of the United Nations Security Council Rafael Carreno said that all members during the closed-door meeting expressed their concern at Turkey's actions and called on the country to "comply with international law".[14][15]

Following the UNSC vote and just hours before the bombing, Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, referred to PYD as a "terrorist organisation" akin to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), DHKP-C and Al-Nusra Front and stressed that the attacks against PYD's armed wing, YPG, will continue until it stops alleged threats against Turkey's national security.[16]Template:Source needs translation

Bombings

A car bomb detonated at 18:31 local time, while army buses carrying military personnel were waiting at traffic lights.[17][18][19] The attack site was next to a residential block for high-ranking military personnel.[20] Some Turkish news channels showed images of a raging fire that engulfed military vehicles after the explosion, heard several kilometres away.[21][22]

Casualties

At least 30 people, including the perpetrator, died and 60 were injured as a result of the blast. The initial dead included the perpetrator, 12 soldiers, 12 civilian employees of the military and a journalist.[23] Another civilian died from his wounds in hospital on 23 February 2016.[24] A list of the first dead was published on 18 February.[25]

According to Haberturk (newspaper), 27 of 28 victims were the Turkish army personnel.[26]

Assailant

The suicide bomber is Abdülbaki Sönmez, a citizen of Turkey. He was trained as a suicide bomber in Syrian Rojava by YPG and entered Turkey as a refugee. [27][28]

Initially, Turkish government declared the name of assailant as Salih Necar (a Syrian Kurd) [29]. Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) claimed responsibility and named the suicide bomber as Abdülbaki Sönmez and released a photo of him, which later turned out to be an edited image of a Turkish blogger.[30][31][32][33][34][35] Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is affiliated with the YPG, denied any involvement, with co-chair Salih Muslim claiming that "they do not consider Turkey as an enemy."[36] Later, Koma Civakên Kurdistan (KCK) also claimed responsibility for the attack.[37]

After the investigation, Salih Necar turned out to be a fake name used by Abdulbaki Sönmez to enter Turkey from Syria. [38] Turkish government is insisting on that YPG, taking orders from PKK, is responsible from the massacre, and TAK is used as a way to "exonerate" the YPG. [39] Turkish government is also worried about NATO allies of support of YPG, prime minister Davutoğlu said “We cannot excuse any NATO ally, including the US, of having links with a terrorist organisation [YPG] that strikes us in the heart of Turkey”.[40]

Reactions

Thousands at protests all over Turkey

Domestic

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a statement. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu cancelled planned trips to Belgium and Azerbaijan following the attack.[8][41] Spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development Party Ömer Çelik said he condemned the attacks.[8] Erdogan vowed retaliation against the perpetrators of the attack while Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş called it an attack on the "nation as a whole".[42]

Oppositional Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-leader Selahattin Demirtaş condemned the bombing as a "merciless attack" and wished "God’s mercy upon those who lost their lives".[43] The Turkish Parliament failed to make a unanimous declaration. The pro-Kurdish and pro-minority HDP party condemned the bombing, with parliamentary chair İdris Baluken referring to it as a "loathsome attack"; the party disagreed with the unilaterally drafted text. The declaration was finally released by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), and opposition CHP and MHP parties.[44]

International

An EU summit in Brussels that was to focus on the issues of migrants was cancelled following the bombing.[45] World leaders, including those from Germany, the United Kingdom and United States condemned the attack.[46] In a joint statement, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini and European Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, termed the bombing "a terrible attack".[46] NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the attack.[46]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ankara'daki patlamada ölenlerin isim listesi". Haberturk. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Ankara'daki bombalı saldırıda 1 kişi daha hayatını kaybetti". Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Ankarada patlamada ölenlerin isimleri belli oldu, 28 ocağa ateş düştü (ankara patlama)". Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Erdogan says 'no doubt' Syrian Kurd fighters behind Ankara attack". Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Ankara'da askeri servis aracına bombalı saldırı". CNN Türk (in Turkish). 17 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Milliyet". Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Bombacının Abdulbaki Sömer olduğu kesinleşti". Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Letsch, Constanze (17 February 2016). "Up to 28 killed by Ankara car bomb targeting military personnel". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Turkey's capital Ankara rocked by deadly explosion".
  10. ^ "Ankara blast: Five dead after explosion in Turkish capital". BBC News.
  11. ^ Jason Hanna and Hamdi Alkhshali (17 February 2016). "Explosion strikes Turkey's capital". CNN.
  12. ^ Karam and Soguel, Zeina and Dominique (14 February 2016). "Turkey shells Kurdish positions in Syria for 2nd day". AP. Washington Post.
  13. ^ "Syria conflict: Turkey shells Kurdish militia". BBC. BBC. 13 February 2016.
  14. ^ "UN Security Council concerned by Turkey's actions in Syria, says Venezuela". Today's Zaman. Today's Zaman. 16 February 2016.
  15. ^ "The Latest: Syria accuses alliance of striking hospital". Washington Post. AP. 16 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Erdoğan'dan "YPG'yi vurmaya devam" mesajı (Erdoğan's message stating attacks on YPG will continue)" (in Turkish). Al Jazeera (Turk). 17 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  17. ^ "TSK: Saldırı trafik ışıklarında meydana geldi". NTV. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  18. ^ "At Least 20 Killed in Ankara Car Bombing Targeting Military Personnel". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Car bomb targeting military buses kills 28 in Turkish capital Ankara". euronews. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  20. ^ "Ankara bomb leaves at least 28 people dead in Turkish capital". Mail Online. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Blast hits Ankara". Anadolu Agency.
  22. ^ "At least five killed in huge explosion in car bomb attack in Ankara". TodaysZaman. 17 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Erdogan says 'no doubt' Syrian Kurd fighters behind Ankara attack". Daily Mail. Agence France-Presse. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  24. ^ "Death toll in Ankara bombing increased to 29". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  25. ^ "Şehitlerin kimlikleri belli oldu". ZAMAN. 18 February 2016.
  26. ^ "Ankara'daki patlamada ölenlerin isim listesi". Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  27. ^ Raziye Akkoc (18 February 2016). "Ankara bombing: Attacker is Syrian linked to Kurds and entered with refugees". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  28. ^ Maayan Groisman (18 February 2016). "Turkey claims Ankara suicide bomber is a Syrian member of the Kurdish YPG". Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  29. ^ "Pro-government daily identifies Ankara car bomb attacker as Syrian national". Today's Zaman. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  30. ^ Letsch, Constanze (19 February 2016). "Kurdish militant group Tak claims responsibility for Ankara car bomb". The Guardian. The Guardian.
  31. ^ Dolan, David (19 February 2016). "Kurdish militant group TAK claims responsibility for Ankara bombing". Reuters. Reuters.
  32. ^ KAPLAN, MICHAEL (19 February 2016). "Ankara Bombing Update: Kurdish Militant Group TAK Claims Responsibility For Attack". IBT.
  33. ^ Piri Medya (19 February 2016). "YPG'yi photoshop yaptılar". Yeni Şafak.
  34. ^ "Photoshop'la YPG'yi yaptılar". Star.com.tr.
  35. ^ "Habertürk: Başsavcılık, Ankara saldırısını üstlenen TAK'ı yalanladı". t24.com.tr.
  36. ^ "Ankara blast: Turkey PM says Syria Kurds to blame". BBC News. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  37. ^ http://www.haksozhaber.net/kck-ankara-saldirisi-her-acidan-sahiplenilecek-ve-onur-duyulacak-bir-eylemdir-73632h.htm
  38. ^ http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2016/02/24/pyd-involvement-in-ankara-bombing-unquestionable
  39. ^ http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2016/02/23/syrian-ypg-takes-orders-from-pkk-pm-davutoglu-says
  40. ^ "A bombing in Ankara moves Turkey closer to a fight with Syria—and Russia". The Economist. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  41. ^ "Car Bomb Kills 28 in Turkey; Erdogan Vows Revenge". VOA.
  42. ^ "Ankara attack: 28 people killed, 61 wounded in car bomb targeting Turkey's military". First Post.
  43. ^ "Turkey's opposition parties condemn Ankara blast". Hürriyet Daily News. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  44. ^ "Turkish parliament fails to make a joint declaration after Ankara attack". Hürriyet Daily News. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  45. ^ "News from The Associated Press". hosted.ap.org. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  46. ^ a b c "World condemns terror attack at heart of Ankara". TodaysZaman. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
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