This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34495161
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 10 | Version 11 |
---|---|
Ankara explosions leave more than 80 dead - officials | Ankara explosions leave more than 80 dead - officials |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two explosions at a peace rally in the Turkish capital Ankara have killed at least 86 people and injured 186, according to officials. | Two explosions at a peace rally in the Turkish capital Ankara have killed at least 86 people and injured 186, according to officials. |
TV footage showed scenes of panic and people lying on the ground covered in blood, amid protest banners. | TV footage showed scenes of panic and people lying on the ground covered in blood, amid protest banners. |
The blasts took place near the city's central train station as people gathered for a march organised by leftist groups. | The blasts took place near the city's central train station as people gathered for a march organised by leftist groups. |
The attack is the deadliest of its kind in modern Turkish history. | |
Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the "loathsome attack that targeted our unity and our togetherness". | |
Government officials are investigating reports that a suicide bomber was behind at least one of the explosions. | Government officials are investigating reports that a suicide bomber was behind at least one of the explosions. |
The rally was demanding an end to the violence between the Kurdish separatist PKK militants and the Turkish government and had been due to start at 12:00 local time. | The rally was demanding an end to the violence between the Kurdish separatist PKK militants and the Turkish government and had been due to start at 12:00 local time. |
The pro-Kurdish HDP party was among those attending, and it said in a statement that it believes its members were the main target of the bombings. | The pro-Kurdish HDP party was among those attending, and it said in a statement that it believes its members were the main target of the bombings. |
The leader of the HDP has blamed the state for the attack, which he called "a huge massacre", and cancelled all election rallies. | The leader of the HDP has blamed the state for the attack, which he called "a huge massacre", and cancelled all election rallies. |
Turkey is holding a re-run of June's inconclusive parliamentary elections on 1 November. | Turkey is holding a re-run of June's inconclusive parliamentary elections on 1 November. |
Later on Saturday, the PKK called on its fighters to halt its guerrilla activities in Turkey unless attacked first. A statement from an umbrella group that includes the PKK said its forces would "make no attempts to hinder or harm the exercise of a fair and equal election". | Later on Saturday, the PKK called on its fighters to halt its guerrilla activities in Turkey unless attacked first. A statement from an umbrella group that includes the PKK said its forces would "make no attempts to hinder or harm the exercise of a fair and equal election". |
Analysis: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Istanbul | Analysis: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Istanbul |
After the ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish state broke down in July, Turkey has spiralled into tit-for-tat attacks between the two sides, and tension between Kurds and Turkish nationalists has soared. | After the ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish state broke down in July, Turkey has spiralled into tit-for-tat attacks between the two sides, and tension between Kurds and Turkish nationalists has soared. |
Amidst the frenzy of a repeat election in November, it was expected that something dangerous was imminent. | Amidst the frenzy of a repeat election in November, it was expected that something dangerous was imminent. |
The pro-Kurdish HDP party has blamed the state. That is undoubtedly a reference to the so-called "deep state" often talked about here: a shady mix of nationalist forces either colluding with or supporting the government in power. | The pro-Kurdish HDP party has blamed the state. That is undoubtedly a reference to the so-called "deep state" often talked about here: a shady mix of nationalist forces either colluding with or supporting the government in power. |
The West's vital ally in the Middle East is now facing a perfect storm: deep political polarisation, the bubble of economic success on the brink of bursting, a resumption of violence with the PKK, the threat from Islamic State, and two million Syrian refugees and counting. | The West's vital ally in the Middle East is now facing a perfect storm: deep political polarisation, the bubble of economic success on the brink of bursting, a resumption of violence with the PKK, the threat from Islamic State, and two million Syrian refugees and counting. |
The tragedy in Ankara is a sign of the dark times Turkey is now facing. | The tragedy in Ankara is a sign of the dark times Turkey is now facing. |
Who are the Kurds? | Who are the Kurds? |
Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds: What's going on? | Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds: What's going on? |
The two explosions happened shortly after 10:00 as crowds gathered ahead of the rally. Amateur video footage showed a group of young people holding hands and singing, before the first blast. | The two explosions happened shortly after 10:00 as crowds gathered ahead of the rally. Amateur video footage showed a group of young people holding hands and singing, before the first blast. |
Opposition MP Musa Cam tweeted a photo of a ball bearing he says he found at the scene. | Opposition MP Musa Cam tweeted a photo of a ball bearing he says he found at the scene. |
"I heard one big explosion first and tried to cover myself as the windows broke. Right away there was the second one," an eyewitness at the train station told Reuters. | "I heard one big explosion first and tried to cover myself as the windows broke. Right away there was the second one," an eyewitness at the train station told Reuters. |
"There was shouting and crying and I stayed under the newspapers for a while. I could smell burnt flesh," he added. | "There was shouting and crying and I stayed under the newspapers for a while. I could smell burnt flesh," he added. |
"There was a great movement and panic," eyewitness Ahmet Onen told AFP. | "There was a great movement and panic," eyewitness Ahmet Onen told AFP. |
"A demonstration that was to promote peace has turned into a massacre, I don't understand this," he said, sobbing. | "A demonstration that was to promote peace has turned into a massacre, I don't understand this," he said, sobbing. |
Bulent Tekdemir, who was at the rally, told the BBC that the police used tear gas "as soon as the bomb went off", and "would not let ambulances through". | Bulent Tekdemir, who was at the rally, told the BBC that the police used tear gas "as soon as the bomb went off", and "would not let ambulances through". |
A local resident said that angry people tried to attack police cars after the blast. The HDP tweeted that police "attacked" people carrying the injured away. | A local resident said that angry people tried to attack police cars after the blast. The HDP tweeted that police "attacked" people carrying the injured away. |
An HDP rally in the city of Diyarbakir was bombed in June, ahead of general elections in which the party entered parliament for the first time. | An HDP rally in the city of Diyarbakir was bombed in June, ahead of general elections in which the party entered parliament for the first time. |
In July, a suicide bombing by suspected Islamic State militants on a gathering of socialist youth activists in the town of Suruc on the Syrian border killed at least 30 people. | In July, a suicide bombing by suspected Islamic State militants on a gathering of socialist youth activists in the town of Suruc on the Syrian border killed at least 30 people. |
A ceasefire between the Kurdish militant group the PKK and Turkey's government later broke down, and there have been regular attacks from both sides since then. | A ceasefire between the Kurdish militant group the PKK and Turkey's government later broke down, and there have been regular attacks from both sides since then. |
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by what has happened? If it is safe to do so, please email your experience to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by what has happened? If it is safe to do so, please email your experience to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |