Two explosions have ripped through a pro-Kurdish peace rally in the Turkish capital of Ankara, leaving multiple casualties.
Witnesses described how the blast shook the ground at the road junction near the main train station in the centre of the Turkish capital Ankara.The Ankara prosecutor have confirmed that at least 52 people have been killed and over 100 wounded in the blasts at 10.05am local time.
Video footage has emerged of protesters holding hands and dancing together just as the bomb is detonated in the background.
The Turkish government suspects that the twin blasts was a 'terrorist' attack, an official said.
'We suspect that there is a terrorist connection,' a government official told AFP, asking not to be named.
President Erdogan has cancelled his plans in Istanbul and three Turkish political parties have suspended election campaigning events today following the devastating attack.
It is unclear what caused the blast, sparking rumours that it may have been a suicide bomb attack
Demonstrators were planning to march in protest against the conflict between the Turkish state and Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey.
Ambulances have already begun to arrive at the scene and graphic photos have emerged on social media of multiple casualties.
Reports have emerged that Turkish police officers fired into the air to disperse angry protesters shortly after the blast.
Activists were heard chanting the slogan 'police murderers!' at security forces, outraged by the horrific attack.
'We heard one huge blast and then one smaller explosion and then there was a a great movement and panic. Then we saw corpses around the station,' said witness Ahmet Onen.
'A demonstration that was to promote peace has turned into a massacre, I don't understand this,' he said, in floods of tears.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had been briefed over the blast by Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu, Anatolia said.
'We are investigating the explosion and will share our findings with the public as soon as possible,' a Turkish official told AFP, without giving further details.
The area was due to host an anti-government peace rally organised by several leftist groups later in the day, including the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).
'We are faced with a huge massacre. A barbaric attack has been committed,' said the HDP's leader Selahattin Demirtas.
The attack comes with Turkey on edge ahead of November 1 polls and a wave of unrest over the past few months.
No comments:
Post a Comment