Ankara Attack Fuels Erdogan’s Offensive Against Kurds

[Anthea]

BBC News

A large explosion at a military dormitory in the Turkish capital Ankara has left several people injured, reports say.

A Turkish police official quoted by the Reuters news agency said a vehicle exploded.

Photos on social media showed large plumes of smoke rising from the area.

[Anthea]

BBC News (update)

A large explosion in the Turkish capital, Ankara, has left at least five people killed and 10 injured, the city's governor says.

The blast happened next to a passing military vehicle, in an area close to parliament and Turkey's military headquarters.

Large plumes of smoke were seen rising from the area and witnesses said the blast was heard all over the city.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag called it an "act of terrorism".

The Ankara's governor office said the explosion was caused by a vehicle full of explosives that was detonated as military buses were passing by.

Ambulances and fire engines were sent to the scene.

Turkey's Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has cancelled a trip to Brussels, the Reuters news agency reported.

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 said.

Last October, an attack at a peace march left at least 99 people dead in Ankara.

Turkey has become more involved in the Syrian conflict and has faced security threats from different groups, including IS and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Link To Photos (Article will be updated)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35599323

[Anthea]

BBC News (update)

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.

Some of the victims were civilians.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ambulances and fire engines were sent to the scene.

Security forces carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect package after the blast.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was more determined than ever to use "its right to self-defence".

In a statement released several hours after the attack, he said: "Our determination to respond in kind to attacks taking place inside and outside our borders is getting stronger with such acts."

Mr Erdogan has cancelled a planned trip to Azerbaijan on Thursday, Reuters reports.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has also cancelled a visit to Brussels on Thursday where he was due to attend meetings about the refugee crisis in Europe.

The US condemned the attack. Mark Toner from the State Department offered condolences to the families of the victims, adding: "We reaffirm our strong partnership with our Nato ally Turkey in combating the shared threat of terrorism attacks."

Turkey has been hit by a series of attacks recently, and there have been increasing concerns that the country could be targeted by another big attack.

In a separate development on Wednesday, an explosion damaged a building housing a Turkish cultural centre near the Swedish capital Stockholm, local officials said. No-one was injured.

It was not clear if the incident was linked to the Ankara blast.

[Anthea]

BBC News

Turkey's prime minister says the deadly bombing in Ankara was carried out by Kurdish YPG militia based in Syria.

Ahmet Davutoglu said the fighters were helped by militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey. The YPG has denied involvement.

Turkey says 14 people have been held in connection with Wednesday's attack on the military convoy in Ankara.

Meanwhile, another convoy in south-east Turkey has been hit by a bomb, killing at least six troops.

Wednesday's bombing in Ankara targeted the convoy as it passed close to key government buildings. Twenty-eight people were killed and 61 injured.

Mr Davutoglu said 26 of the dead were soldiers. The funerals will be held later on Thursday.

Mr Davutoglu named the Ankara bomber as Salih Necar, a Syrian national and member of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

"A direct link between the attack and the YPG has been established," he said. He went on to say the attack was carried out with logistical support from PKK militants inside Turkey.

The PKK, which has been fighting for Kurdish self-determination since 1984, is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies.

Turkey has also designated the YPG a terrorist group, but its allies, including the United States, back the YPG in its fight against so-called Islamic State (IS).

Link to Full Article - Video - Photos:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35602288

[Anthea]

The Guardian

Turkey says Kurds in Syria responsible for Ankara car bomb

Turkey has blamed Wednesday’s car bomb attack on a military convoy in Ankara on Kurds based in Syria, as another explosion hit a convoy in the south-east.

The Turkish prime minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, alleged that Wednesday’s attack, which left 28 dead, was carried out by a Syrian Kurdish fighter with links to the People’s Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish militia that has been supported by the US in the fight against Islamic State in northern Syria. The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) assisted with the attack, Davutoğlu said.

“We collected intelligence all night,” Davutoğlu told reporters in Ankara. “The perpetrators have been fully identified. The attack was carried out by YPG member Salih Necer, who came in from Syria.”

Fourteen people have been held in connection with the attack.

Davutoğlu said Turkish intelligence had established where the militants had crossed into Turkey and how their networks were organised.

Full Article - Photos - Video:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/f ... ara-attack

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Voice of America

Bomb Attacks in Turkey Fuel Erdogan’s Offensive Against Kurds

Bombings in Turkey this week are escalating the conflict between Ankara and Kurdish separatists, as well as raising new questions of whom the United States is supporting in the Syrian conflict and the scope of U.S. objectives.

Analysts warn the attacks could also lead to a wider involvement by Turkish forces in Syria and further strain its relations with the U.S.

The larger attack, a suicide car bomb in the heart of Turkey’s capital, Ankara, that killed 28 people Wednesday, drew a quick and angry promise of retaliation from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who blamed Kurdish separatists and their outside supporters – a reference to Syria.

“Even though those who head the PYD and PKK say this has no connection with them, based on the information obtained by our interior minister and our intelligence agencies, it is identified that this is done by them,” Erdogan said in a televised speech.

Link to Full Article:

http://www.voanews.com/content/bombings ... 98359.html