Turkey’s Interior Ministry attacked in Ankara; PKK claims responsibility

Image credit: Getty Images

A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside Turkey’s interior ministry in the capital, Ankara, on Sunday the Turkish government said.

Two officers were wounded in the blast that killed the bomber. Authorities “neutralised”, or killed, the other attacker, the Minister of Interior Affairs, Ali Yerlikaya said.

The attack took place hours before parliament was set to reopen.

İçişleri Bakanlığımız Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü giriş kapısı önünde meydana gelen HAİN TERÖR SALDIRI GİRİŞİMİNDE yaralanan kahraman polislerimiz Alim Reis Demirel ve Erkan Karataş’ın tedavileri devam etmektedir.

Çok şükür hayati tehlikeleri bulunmuyor.
Kahramanlarımıza acil…

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) October 1, 2023

Turkey attack: PKK  claims responsibility

In his speech to lawmakers later on Sunday President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, condemned the attack, saying: “The villains who threaten the peace and security of citizens have not achieved their objectives and will never achieve them.”

A news site close to the the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Ankara has long considered to be a terrorist organisation, said it has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security footage of the incident obtained by Reuters shows a vehicle slowing down on the street near the building’s gated entrance.

The vehicle comes to a stop then the driver’s side door slowly opens. One individual exits as a second emerges from the other side of the car. The second person approaches the entrance in a tactical stance, though it’s unclear if the attacker is holding a firearm, while the first hides behind the car. The assailant in motion hurries quickly past what appears to be a guard tower. A large explosion then strikes.

After, through the smoke, the contours of what appears to be the first attacker move toward the gate before the 40-second clip ends.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said that an investigation has been launched into the incident.

“These attacks will in no way hinder Turkey’s fight against terrorism,” Tunc said on X.

“Our fight against terrorism will continue even more determinedly.”

The bombing took place just hours before lawmakers are set to return to work after the summer break.

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