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Suspicion mounts in Turkey as peace activists bury their dead Suspicion mounts in Turkey as peace activists bury their dead
(35 minutes later)
Yuksel was a little late to the peace rally – perhaps it saved his life.Yuksel was a little late to the peace rally – perhaps it saved his life.
He arrived in central Ankara five minutes after two suicide bombers detonated their explosives on Saturday, killing at least 100 people in Turkey’s deadliest ever terrorist attack.He arrived in central Ankara five minutes after two suicide bombers detonated their explosives on Saturday, killing at least 100 people in Turkey’s deadliest ever terrorist attack.
It was like a scene from hell, the Kurdish man said, recalling the chaos of the aftermath. As he walked through it in a daze, a woman whose right half had been torn apart grabbed at his trousers.It was like a scene from hell, the Kurdish man said, recalling the chaos of the aftermath. As he walked through it in a daze, a woman whose right half had been torn apart grabbed at his trousers.
“She said ‘help me, help me,’” he said, standing with families of the wounded and volunteers in the Turkish capital’s Numune hospital on Monday. “Blood was coming out of her ears.”“She said ‘help me, help me,’” he said, standing with families of the wounded and volunteers in the Turkish capital’s Numune hospital on Monday. “Blood was coming out of her ears.”
Police soon arrived at the scene, he said, and pulled him away as he knelt to assist her, telling him he could not help her. He said he overheard the dead – mainly Turkish and Kurdish activists – being described as terrorists. “I told the policemen you cannot be Muslims,” he said.Police soon arrived at the scene, he said, and pulled him away as he knelt to assist her, telling him he could not help her. He said he overheard the dead – mainly Turkish and Kurdish activists – being described as terrorists. “I told the policemen you cannot be Muslims,” he said.
The peace rally had called for an end to long-running violence between the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and outlawed insurgent group, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), as well as demonstrating against Turkey’s support for Islamist rebel groups in neighbouring Syria.The peace rally had called for an end to long-running violence between the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and outlawed insurgent group, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), as well as demonstrating against Turkey’s support for Islamist rebel groups in neighbouring Syria.
In Ankara, families, leftwing activists and officials continued to mourn their comrades on Monday, but grief has quickly turned to anger focused on Erdoğan’s government, accusing his Justice and Development party (AKP) of stirring unrest to increase its chances of ruling alone following parliamentary elections scheduled for 1 November. They also laid blame for the attacks with the Turkish government for its foreign policy in Syria, and its failure to protect opposition groups and their minority supporters.In Ankara, families, leftwing activists and officials continued to mourn their comrades on Monday, but grief has quickly turned to anger focused on Erdoğan’s government, accusing his Justice and Development party (AKP) of stirring unrest to increase its chances of ruling alone following parliamentary elections scheduled for 1 November. They also laid blame for the attacks with the Turkish government for its foreign policy in Syria, and its failure to protect opposition groups and their minority supporters.
“They’re trying to start a civil war,” said Yuksel, who declined to give his full name. “This was a rally for peace. They attacked peace and the government is first of all responsible for this attack. And they are doing it all for 400 deputies.”“They’re trying to start a civil war,” said Yuksel, who declined to give his full name. “This was a rally for peace. They attacked peace and the government is first of all responsible for this attack. And they are doing it all for 400 deputies.”
On Monday, Turkey rejected accusations that the government was to blame for the attacks on Saturday, and said Islamic State was the “number one priority” of the government’s investigation, though it had not ruled out involvement of the PKK. As yet, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. On Monday, Turkey rejected accusations that the government was to blame for the attacks on Saturday, and said Islamic State was the “No 1priority” of the government’s investigation, though it had not ruled out involvement of the PKK. As yet, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu told Turkish broadcaster NTV the attack was an attempt to influence the country’s general election, and that any “isolated” security shortcomings would be investigated. He also denied that they were a result of Turkey’s involvement in the conflict in Syria.Prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu told Turkish broadcaster NTV the attack was an attempt to influence the country’s general election, and that any “isolated” security shortcomings would be investigated. He also denied that they were a result of Turkey’s involvement in the conflict in Syria.
But the opposition maintains that the Turkish state had failed to provide protection for the peace rally, and attacked individuals who tried to help at the scene with teargas shortly after the bombing.But the opposition maintains that the Turkish state had failed to provide protection for the peace rally, and attacked individuals who tried to help at the scene with teargas shortly after the bombing.
Turkey announced snap elections for November after the AKP and its rivals failed to agree on a coalition government after the last polls in June, which saw the opposition led by the pro-Kurdish HDP gain significant ground.Turkey announced snap elections for November after the AKP and its rivals failed to agree on a coalition government after the last polls in June, which saw the opposition led by the pro-Kurdish HDP gain significant ground.
Ibrahim Kara, the co-chief of the union of medical workers, one of the organisers of the peace rally, who carried a friend who died in the blast away from the scene immediately after the explosion, said he believes the attacks were part of the AKP’s strategy for the upcoming election, to “raise violence” with the PKK to undermine the pro-Kurdish opposition and raise patriotic sentiments among their base.Ibrahim Kara, the co-chief of the union of medical workers, one of the organisers of the peace rally, who carried a friend who died in the blast away from the scene immediately after the explosion, said he believes the attacks were part of the AKP’s strategy for the upcoming election, to “raise violence” with the PKK to undermine the pro-Kurdish opposition and raise patriotic sentiments among their base.
“The AKP started this dirty war after the last elections just to affect the next election,” he said.“The AKP started this dirty war after the last elections just to affect the next election,” he said.
After a suicide bombing targeted mostly Kurdish activists in the border city of Suruç in July, the PKK carried out reprisal attacks against security forces . Ankara blamed Isis for the attack, which bears some similarities to Saturday’s bombings. Campaigners say the government used the Suruç attack as a pretext for a major crackdown that led to the collapse of peace talks between the PKK and the Turkish government.After a suicide bombing targeted mostly Kurdish activists in the border city of Suruç in July, the PKK carried out reprisal attacks against security forces . Ankara blamed Isis for the attack, which bears some similarities to Saturday’s bombings. Campaigners say the government used the Suruç attack as a pretext for a major crackdown that led to the collapse of peace talks between the PKK and the Turkish government.
Ilhan Yigit, the head of the public employees’ trade union and a peace rally organiser, said the protest was aimed at ending violence between the government and the PKK as well as interference in the war in Syria.Ilhan Yigit, the head of the public employees’ trade union and a peace rally organiser, said the protest was aimed at ending violence between the government and the PKK as well as interference in the war in Syria.
“They started a war in Turkey, and we can call this a war government,” he said. “They started to fan the flames of these wars and we wanted to say no to war.”“They started a war in Turkey, and we can call this a war government,” he said. “They started to fan the flames of these wars and we wanted to say no to war.”
Unions have compiled a list of 130 names of victims, a higher number than the official government tally, and said they believe the death toll may rise to at least 180.Unions have compiled a list of 130 names of victims, a higher number than the official government tally, and said they believe the death toll may rise to at least 180.
He said the government’s policies, from allowing militants free reign to cross the border into Syria and inflaming tensions with the Kurds were responsible for the latest tragedy.He said the government’s policies, from allowing militants free reign to cross the border into Syria and inflaming tensions with the Kurds were responsible for the latest tragedy.
Back at Numune Hospital, anxious families awaited news of missing friends and loved ones.Back at Numune Hospital, anxious families awaited news of missing friends and loved ones.
Veli Sacilik’s lower lip quivered as he recounted being at the scene. He had just returned from burying a friend who died at the rally, his photo pinned to his front pocket.Veli Sacilik’s lower lip quivered as he recounted being at the scene. He had just returned from burying a friend who died at the rally, his photo pinned to his front pocket.
“When I close my eyes, I see the pieces of bodies,” he said.“When I close my eyes, I see the pieces of bodies,” he said.