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Explosion in Turkey capital; several casualties reported Car bomb in Turkey’s capital kills at least 27, wounds 75
(35 minutes later)
ANKARA, Turkey — A large explosion in Turkey’s capital, believed to have been caused by a bomb, has caused several casualties on Sunday, according to news reports. ANKARA, Turkey — A car bombing in Turkey’s capital has killed at least 27 people and wounded around 75 others on Sunday, officials said.
NTV television said the bomb exploded close to bus stops near a park at Ankara’s main square, Kizilay. The news channel said a car, believed to be laden with explosives, detonated close to a bus. Several vehicles then caught fire, it said. The area is close to government offices, including ministries. The blast occurred on the city’s main boulevard, Ataturk Bulvari, close to Ankara’s main square, Kizilay. It happened adjacent to bus stops near a park.
The explosion came just three weeks after a suicide car bombing in the capital targeted buses carrying military personnel, killing 29 people. A Kurdish militant group which is an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdish rebel group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, claimed responsibility for that attack. The private NTV news channel said a car, believed to be laden with explosives, detonated close to a bus. Several vehicles then caught fire, it said. The area is close to government offices, including ministries.
It also occurred two days after the U.S. Embassy issued a security warning about a potential plot to attack Turkish government buildings and housing in one Ankara neighborhood and asked its citizens to avoid those areas. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was convening an emergency security meeting.
The deadly explosion — the third in the city in five months — came just three weeks after a suicide car bombing in the capital targeted buses carrying military personnel, killing 29 people. A Kurdish militant group which is an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdish rebel group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, claimed responsibility for the Feb. 17 attack.
Sunday’s attack also came two days after the U.S. Embassy issued a security warning about a potential plot to attack Turkish government buildings and housing in one Ankara neighborhood and asked its citizens to avoid those areas.
The explosion shattered the windows of shops that line Kizilay square
Dogan Asik, 28, said he was on a bus when the explosion occurred.Dogan Asik, 28, said he was on a bus when the explosion occurred.
“We were thrown further back into the bus from the force of the explosion,” said Asik, who sustained injuries on his face and arm.“We were thrown further back into the bus from the force of the explosion,” said Asik, who sustained injuries on his face and arm.
Several ambulances and police cars were sent to the scene of Sunday’s explosion. Police sealed off the area and pushed onlookers and journalists back, warning there could be a second bomb. Police sealed off the area and pushed onlookers and journalists back, warning there could be a second bomb.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.