Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his firm belief that “terrorists” will never succeed in achieving their aims following a recent attack near the parliament in Ankara. Erdogan’s statement comes after an explosion outside the interior ministry injured two police officers.
The explosion, which resulted in large flames and could be heard from several kilometers away, was claimed by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an organization listed as a terror group by Turkiye and its Western allies. The PKK has been engaged in a deadly insurgency against Ankara for over four decades.
The targeted district in Ankara houses various government ministries and the Turkish parliament, which resumed its activities as planned in the afternoon with Erdogan addressing the parliament. Erdogan assured the lawmakers that the individuals threatening the peace and security of citizens will not succeed in their objectives.
The interior ministry provided details of the attack, stating that two attackers arrived in a commercial vehicle and carried out the bomb attack at the entrance gate of the General Directorate of Security of the Ministry of the Interior. One of the attackers detonated himself, while the other was killed by a bullet before he could activate his explosive. Two police officers sustained minor injuries during the exchange of fire.
The PKK issued a statement through the ANF news agency, which is closely associated with the Kurdish movement, claiming responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile, the Ankara police announced on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that they were conducting controlled explosions of suspicious packages to prevent any further incidents.
Following the attack, the Ankara prosecutor’s office initiated an investigation and imposed restrictions on access to the area. Local media was also requested not to broadcast images from the scene.
Focus on EU Relations and NATO Membership
In his parliamentary address, Erdogan criticized the European Union (EU), expressing his dissatisfaction with the long wait for Turkiye’s accession to the union. He emphasized that Turkiye no longer expected anything from the EU, as the country has fulfilled its promises while the EU has failed to keep up its end of the bargain. Erdogan stated that he would not accept any new demands or conditions for Turkiye’s membership in the bloc.
During this parliamentary session, the members of the Turkish parliament are expected to ratify Sweden’s entry into the NATO alliance. Earlier, Hungary and Turkiye lifted their veto against Sweden’s membership but have been slow in formalizing the process. Erdogan had previously mentioned that parliamentary approval would likely occur in October. However, it is anticipated that the approval will take place within the current parliamentary year.
For several months, Erdogan has been pressuring Sweden to take action against Koran desecrations, which have strained relations between the two countries. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson swiftly reaffirmed his country’s commitment to fighting terrorism and expressed a desire for long-term cooperation with Turkiye.
Other foreign leaders, including Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States embassy in Ankara, conveyed messages of support to Turkiye after the attack.
The capital city, Ankara, has witnessed multiple attacks in recent years, with the PKK and the Islamic State group taking responsibility for many of them. The PKK has been engaged in an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, resulting in a substantial loss of life over the years. One of the deadliest attacks was in October 2015 when a bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed 109 people in front of a central station in Ankara. The most recent bombing in Turkiye occurred in a shopping street in Istanbul in November 2022, resulting in six deaths and 81 injuries.