On Sunday, an explosion occurred at a government building in Ankara, Turkey. Two attackers detonated a bomb outside the building, resulting in both attackers losing their lives and two police officers sustaining injuries. This incident is being regarded as the first terrorist attack in the capital in years.
Surveillance footage obtained by Reuters shows a vehicle pulling up to the Interior Ministry’s main gate. One of the occupants quickly walks towards the building and is then engulfed in an explosion, while the other remains on the street.
The blast killed one of the attackers, while authorities “neutralized” the other, according to the interior minister. This incident has caused a stir in the central district of Ankara, where ministerial buildings and the parliament are located.
Speaking at the opening of a new parliamentary session, President Tayyip Erdogan referred to the attack as the “latest attempt” to terrorize the Turkish people. He asserted that those who threaten the peace and security of citizens will not succeed in their goals.
The explosion on Ataturk Boulevard is the first of its kind in Ankara since 2016 when a series of deadly attacks plagued the country. Following the incident, a video captured a Renault cargo vehicle parked on the boulevard with shattered windows and open doors. The area was surrounded by soldiers, ambulances, and armored vehicles.
According to a senior Turkish official, the attackers hijacked the vehicle, killing its driver in Kayseri, a city 260km (161 miles) southeast of Ankara, before carrying out the attack. One of the injured officers sustained shrapnel injuries.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the attack on social media platform X, stating that two terrorists arrived with a light commercial vehicle at the entrance gate of the General Directorate of Security. He added that the two officers were slightly injured in the incident at 9:30 am (0630 GMT).
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), recognized as a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies, claimed responsibility for the attack. They stated that it was a sacrificial action carried out by their Immortal Brigade against the Turkish Interior Ministry.
In response to the attack, authorities conducted controlled explosions for suspicious package incidents in various parts of Ankara. The specific militant group responsible for the attack has yet to be identified.
This incident comes nearly a year after an explosion in central Istanbul killed six people and injured 81. Kurdish militants were held responsible for that attack. From 2015 to 2016, Turkey experienced a series of deadly attacks by Kurdish militants, the Islamic State, and other groups.
Following the attack, the Chief Prosecutor in Ankara launched an investigation into what they called a terrorist attack. Turkey’s parliament is expected to discuss ratifying Sweden’s bid to join NATO in the coming weeks, after initial objections and delays in enlargement.
The European Council President, Charles Michel, strongly condemned the attack, while EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, expressed support for Turkey in its fight against terrorism. Pakistan Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar also condemned the attack, offering solidarity in the fight against terrorism.
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and President of the PML-N, Shehbaz Sharif, prayed for the swift recovery of the injured police officers and expressed unwavering solidarity with the citizens and government of Turkey.