Fatal explosion hits transit hub in Turkish capital Ankara
Blast rips through bus in Kizilay neighbourhood, killing at least 34 people
Constanze Letsch in Istanbul-Sunday 13 March 2016
At least 34 people have died after a car bomb exploded in the Turkish capital Ankara, less than a month after a suicide car bomber killed dozens of military personnel and civilians in the city.
At least 34 people have died after a car bomb exploded in the Turkish capital Ankara, less than a month after a suicide car bomber killed dozens of military personnel and civilians in the city.
The Turkish health minister confirmed the number of fatalities and said at least 125 people were being treated in hospitals, with 19 in a serious condition. The governor’s office also confirmed that the explosion was caused by a car bomb.
According to local broadcaster TRT, a car exploded near a transport hub in an area that also houses many administrative buildings, including the justice and interior ministries, a court and a police station. A large number of fire engines and ambulances have rushed to the scene. There were reports of burnt-out busses and damage to several buildings. TRT said the area was crowded when the bomb went off at 6.43pm (1643 GMT), only blocks from the scene of a similar attack in February.
A reporter from another local news agency, Haber Turk, described a gruesome scene. “The explosion occurred on Atatürk Boulevard at a place where there are 10 bus stations. It is assumed that it was a suicide bomber. There is a vehicle that is mostly destroyed. It is impossible to give any numbers of those who were wounded. But there are many wounded people and burning cars.”
Reuters reported that several rounds of gunfire could be heard immediately after the explosion in the Kizilay area, but that has not been confirmed.
Turkish police, fearing another bomb attack, cordoned off the area and turned away journalists rushing to the scene. Pictures posted on social media immediately after the incident appeared to show a bus almost completely destroyed. Turkey’s broadcasting agency, RTÜK, has since issued a broadcast ban.
