Turkey suicide bombing updates: PKK claims responsibility, says report

That’s it from our Live team today.

You can catch up with today’s events by reading our news stories about the suicide bombing here.

You can also check out our photo gallery from Ankara outside the interior ministry here.

Thank you for joining us.

Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan has condemned the suicide bombing in Ankara, calling it a “treacherous terrorist attack”.

“I wish a speedy recovery to our heroic police officers who were injured in this vile attack … We will continue our fight against terrorism with determination at home and abroad,” he posted on X.

The United States condemns today’s attack at the Turkish Interior Ministry in Ankara. We wish those injured a speedy recovery. We reject terrorism in all its forms and stand firmly by our NATO Ally Türkiye and the Turkish people.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 1, 2023

Turkey’s capital Ankara has seen several attacks in the past few years. Here is a list of several:

March 13, 2016 – Thirty-seven people were killed when a bomb-packed car exploded at a transport hub.

Feb 17, 2016 – Twenty-eight people were killed and dozens wounded when a car laden with explosives detonated next to military buses near the armed forces’ headquarters, parliament and other government buildings.

Oct 10, 2015 – Twin bombings in Ankara killed more than 100 people outside the city’s main train station. Turkish courts jailed perpetrators, who are believed to be linked to ISIL (ISIS), for life.

• The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a designated “terrorist” group in Turkey, the European Union, and the United States, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984.
• The goal of the PKK has been to create an independent socialist Kurdish state in a territory that it claims as Kurdistan – an area that includes parts of southeast Turkey.
• The conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK has killed tens of thousands of people, with the PKK and its offshoots carrying out numerous attacks on military, security forces and civilians; and Turkey conducting operations in southeastern parts of the country with the aim of forcing the PKK out.
• Turkey was hit by a string of deadly bombings between 2015 and 2017, some by ISIL (ISIS), and others by Kurdish fighters who seek increased autonomy or independence.
• Following those attacks, which left more than 500 civilians and security personnel dead, Turkey launched cross-border military operations into Syria and northern Iraq against Kurdish fighters, while also cracking down on Kurdish politicians, journalists and activists at home.

Turkey’s interior minister credited police officers with preventing the second attacker from detonating explosives in Ankara.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), outlawed by Turkey and its Western allies, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing in Ankara.

“A sacrificial action was carried out against the Turkish Interior Ministry by a team from our Immortal Brigade,” the PKK told Firat News Agency (ANF), which has been linked to the group.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has strongly condemned the attack in Ankara.

“NATO stands in solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism,” Stoltenberg said in a post on X, wishing injured police officers a fast and full recovery.

I strongly condemn today’s terrorist attack on the Ministry of Interior in #Ankara, and wish a fast and full recovery for the police officers injured in the line of duty. #NATO stands in solidarity with #Türkiye in the fight against terrorism.

— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) October 1, 2023

We strongly condemn the terrorist attack this morning against Türkiye, our NATO Ally. We offer our condolences to those injured and wish them a speedy recovery. We stand in solidarity with Türkiye against terrorism.

— U.S. Embassy Türkiye (@USEmbassyTurkey) October 1, 2023

Read more here.

Interior Minister Yerlikaya has visited the police officers who were wounded in Sunday’s attack at Ibni Sina Hospital in Ankara University.

He told reporters after the visit that one officer was lightly and the other one was moderately injured after the incident.

Caretaker Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar says his country stands “in complete solidarity with our Turkish brothers and sisters in the fight against the scourge of terrorism”.

“Pakistan strongly condemns the dastardly terrorist attack in Ankara today,” he said on X.

“I have no doubt that under the dynamic leadership of my brother @RTErdogan, the resolute Turkish nation will emerge ever stronger from this challenge,” he added, using President Erdogan’s handle on the platform.

Pakistan strongly condemns the dastardly terrorist attack in Ankara today. We stand in complete solidarity with our Turkish brothers and sisters in the fight against the scourge of terrorism. I have no doubt that under the dynamic leadership of my brother @RTErdogan, the…

— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) October 1, 2023

Saudi Arabia has condemned the Ankara attack in the strongest terms, reiterating its support for all efforts aimed at eliminating “terrorism” and drying up its sources of financing.

The country’s foreign ministry issued a written statement on the bombing in Ankara on the X social media platform.

Saudi Arabia completely rejects all forms of “violence, terrorism and extremism”, the statement said.

President Erdogan says “terrorists” will never achieve their aims in Turkey in his address at the Turkish parliament.

“Today’s terrorist act in Ankara, in which two criminals were neutralised thanks to timely intervention of police, is last flutters of terrorism,” Erdogan said.

“Terrorists trying to destroy peace and citizens’ security will never succeed,” he said.

He added that the burden of instilling morale in “terrorist” groups with political calculations will be very heavy.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is speaking during the first session the Turkish parliament after an almost three-month hiatus.

The address comes hours after an attack on the interior ministry, located very close to the parliament building.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has condemned the attack in the Turkish capital and expressed solidarity with the country.

“We express solidarity with Turkiye and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he said on the social media platform X.

The EU condemns the terrorist attack on the Turkish Ministry of Interior in Ankara, wounding several policemen.

We express solidarity with Türkiye and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 1, 2023

The session of the Turkish parliament after an almost three-month hiatus starts hours after the blast.

Numan Kurtulmus, the speaker of parliament, addressed the session in an opening speech.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has “strongly” condemned the attack in Ankara, saying “it should help many in Europe to better understand and support Turkiye in its fight against terrorism”.

“Saddened to hear about the terrorist attacks in Ankara, Turkiye, but relieved to learn that the intended damage was largely averted by Turkish institutions,” said Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti.