This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/12/turkey-blames-ankara-bombings-on-islamic-state
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Turkey blames Islamic State for Ankara bombings | Turkey blames Islamic State for Ankara bombings |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Turkey is focusing on Islamic State in its investigation into a twin bombing that killed at least 128 people in Ankara, and are close to identifying one of the bombers, the prime minister has said. | Turkey is focusing on Islamic State in its investigation into a twin bombing that killed at least 128 people in Ankara, and are close to identifying one of the bombers, the prime minister has said. |
| Speaking on the Turkish broadcaster NTV, Ahmet Davutoğlu said the attack was an attempt to influence the country’s general election, scheduled to take place on 1 November, and that any “isolated” security shortcomings would be investigated. | |
| “We are focusing on [Isis] in our investigations. We are zooming in on one name that points to a certain criminal organisation,” Davutoğlu said. “But one cannot just say that we should round up an entire sleeper cell and throw them [in jail]. We must act according to the law.” | “We are focusing on [Isis] in our investigations. We are zooming in on one name that points to a certain criminal organisation,” Davutoğlu said. “But one cannot just say that we should round up an entire sleeper cell and throw them [in jail]. We must act according to the law.” |
| He also said the government had not yet ruled out links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) and the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C). | He also said the government had not yet ruled out links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) and the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C). |
| Davutoğlu also confirmed that the explosions were carried out by suicide bombers, and that DNA tests are being conducted on their bodies. | Davutoğlu also confirmed that the explosions were carried out by suicide bombers, and that DNA tests are being conducted on their bodies. |
| Related: Turkey bomb blasts: government blamed as thousands take to streets in Ankara | Related: Turkey bomb blasts: government blamed as thousands take to streets in Ankara |
| At least 128 people were killed and more than 200 wounded on Saturday at the attack on a peace rally organised by several leftist groups, including labour unions and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP), to call for an end to the escalating violence between the Turkish government and the PKK. | At least 128 people were killed and more than 200 wounded on Saturday at the attack on a peace rally organised by several leftist groups, including labour unions and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP), to call for an end to the escalating violence between the Turkish government and the PKK. |
| The attack is the deadliest in the country’s recent history and was labelled a terrorist act by the government, which declared three days of national mourning. | The attack is the deadliest in the country’s recent history and was labelled a terrorist act by the government, which declared three days of national mourning. |
| Opponents of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan blame him for the attack, accusing the state at best of intelligence failings and at worst of complicity by stirring up up nationalist, anti-Kurdish sentiment. | |
| Security experts have said that the Ankara bombing bears similarities to an attack in July near the town of Suruç, bordering Syria, that the Turkish government has also blamed on Isis. The Hürriyet newspaper said the type of device and explosives used in Ankara were the same as in the Suruç attack. Security forces are reportedly investigating the possible involvement of the older brother of the Suruç suicide bomber, Sheikh Abdurrahman Alagöz, in the Ankara attack. | Security experts have said that the Ankara bombing bears similarities to an attack in July near the town of Suruç, bordering Syria, that the Turkish government has also blamed on Isis. The Hürriyet newspaper said the type of device and explosives used in Ankara were the same as in the Suruç attack. Security forces are reportedly investigating the possible involvement of the older brother of the Suruç suicide bomber, Sheikh Abdurrahman Alagöz, in the Ankara attack. |
| Related: ‘We’re witnessing a massacre – and those responsible will not be brought to justice’ | Related: ‘We’re witnessing a massacre – and those responsible will not be brought to justice’ |
| Officials said nine more suspected Isis militants have been detained in raids in the southern cities of Adana and Kilis. About 45 suspected Isis militants have now been arrested since Saturday, in sweeps of four cities. It was not clear, however, if any of those held were linked to the peace rally bombings. | Officials said nine more suspected Isis militants have been detained in raids in the southern cities of Adana and Kilis. About 45 suspected Isis militants have now been arrested since Saturday, in sweeps of four cities. It was not clear, however, if any of those held were linked to the peace rally bombings. |
| Turkey agreed recently to more actively support the US-led battle against Isis, opening its bases to US aircraft launching airstrikes on the group in Syria and carrying out a limited number of strikes on the group itself. | Turkey agreed recently to more actively support the US-led battle against Isis, opening its bases to US aircraft launching airstrikes on the group in Syria and carrying out a limited number of strikes on the group itself. |
| Hours after the attack, Kurdish rebels battling Turkish security forces went ahead with their plans to declare a unilateral ceasefire in an attempt to reduce tensions before the election. Two Turkish soldiers were killed in a clash with PKK fighters in eastern Turkey at the weekend, the military said, despite the ceasefire call. | Hours after the attack, Kurdish rebels battling Turkish security forces went ahead with their plans to declare a unilateral ceasefire in an attempt to reduce tensions before the election. Two Turkish soldiers were killed in a clash with PKK fighters in eastern Turkey at the weekend, the military said, despite the ceasefire call. |
| The attacks brought to the fore divisions between supporters of Erdoğan and his Justice and Development party, and supporters of the opposition movements that have gained significant ground in recent elections. | |
| Hundreds of people chanting anti-government slogans marched towards a mosque in an Istanbul suburb on Monday for the funeral of several of the victims. | Hundreds of people chanting anti-government slogans marched towards a mosque in an Istanbul suburb on Monday for the funeral of several of the victims. |
| The funerals were attended by Selahattin Demirtaş, leader of the HDP, which says it was the target of the bombings and has blamed Erdoğan and the government. | |
| Riot police with water cannon and armoured vehicles stood by as the crowd, some chanting “thief, murderer, Erdoğan” and waving HDP flags, moved towards the mosque in the working-class Ümraniye neighbourhood of Istanbul. | Riot police with water cannon and armoured vehicles stood by as the crowd, some chanting “thief, murderer, Erdoğan” and waving HDP flags, moved towards the mosque in the working-class Ümraniye neighbourhood of Istanbul. |
| Several labour unions also called protests. Hundreds of people, many wearing doctors’ uniforms and carrying Turkish Medical Association banners, gathered by the main train station in Ankara where the explosions happened to lay red carnations but were blocked by riot police, a witness told Reuters. Lawyers at a Istanbul courthouse in Istanbul chanted “murderer Erdoğan will give account” as colleagues applauded. | |
| On Sunday, demonstrators and mourners in Ankara directly blamed the government for failing to protect the rally, accusing it of instigating chaos to secure a majority in the election. | On Sunday, demonstrators and mourners in Ankara directly blamed the government for failing to protect the rally, accusing it of instigating chaos to secure a majority in the election. |
| Reuters contributed to this report | Reuters contributed to this report |