World

Two ‘terrorists’ carry out bomb attack in Turkiye’s Ankara

By Agencies
  • One attacker killed in explosion outside government buildings, second ‘neutralised’ by authorities

ANKARA: Turkey’s government said two terrorists carried out a bomb attack on Sunday in front of the Interior Ministry buildings in Ankara, leaving both of them dead and wounding two police officers in the capital city’s first blast in years.

They drove up to the building’s main entrance and set off the explosion in the area that is home to ministerial buildings and parliament, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. The blast killed one of the attackers and authorities “neutralised” the other, he added.

“Two terrorists came with a light commercial vehicle in front of the entrance gate of the General Directorate of Security of our Ministry of Internal Affairs and carried out a bomb attack,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“Our struggle will continue until the last terrorist is neutralised,” Yerlikaya wrote.

Turkish media earlier reported that an explosion was heard near the parliament and ministerial buildings, and broadcasters showed footage of debris scattered on a street near the Interior Ministry.

At least police officers were injured in the explosion, officials confirmed.

Reuters footage after the blast showed a Renault cargo vehicle parked, windows shattered and doors open, amid debris scattered on the street surrounded by soldiers, police, ambulances, fire trucks and armoured vehicles.

The bomb on Ataturk Boulevard was the first in Ankara since 2016, and comes on the day that President Tayyip Erdogan is set to attend the opening session of parliament, located one kilometre (mile) away.

A senior Turkish official told Reuters the attackers had hijacked the vehicle and killed its driver in Kayseri, a city 260km southeast of Ankara, before carrying out the attack. One of the injured officers suffered shrapnel injuries, he added.

“Two terrorists came with a light commercial vehicle in front of the entrance gate of the General Directorate of Security of our Ministry of Internal Affairs and carried out a bomb attack,” the interior minister, wrote on X.

He added that one blew himself up and the other was “neutralised”, which usually means was killed, while the two officers were slightly injured in the incident at 9.30am.

 

Worldwide condemnation pours in

World leaders expressed solidarity with Turkey and condemned a terror attack foiled by security forces in the capital Ankara on Sunday morning, in which two police officers received minor injuries.

At 9.30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT), one of the two terrorists blew himself up in front of the General Directorate of Security in the city.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the terror attack, stating in a post on X: “NATO stands in solidarity with #Türkiye in the fight against terrorism.”

The French Foreign Ministry also condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with Turkey.

“Terrible news from #Ankara, which has been hit by a terrorist attack today. We express our solidarity with the people of Turkey & wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” said the German Foreign Ministry.

Austria condemned the “heinous attack,” and wished injured police officers a speedy recovery.

“We reject all forms of terrorism and stand in solidarity with Turkey,” the Austrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry “strongly condemns” the attack, saying “Romania stands in full solidarity with #Türkiye & wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”

Greece also issued a statement, strongly condemning the terrorist attack. “We express our solidarity with the people and Government of Turkey and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” the Foreign Ministry said on X.

Sweden strongly condemns the terrorist attack, pledging long-term cooperation with Turkey in combatting terrorism and wishing the injured a quick and full recovery.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said his country “strongly” condemns the terror attack.

“We reaffirm our commitment to long-term cooperation with Turkey in combatting terrorism and wish for quick and full recovery of the ones injured,” he added.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom stated that the country “stands firm in its long-term commitment and partnership” with Turkey in fighting all forms of terrorism.

“Shocked by the terrorist attack in Ankara, Turkey, this morning. Strongly condemn this cowardly attempt to inflict injury and death upon the Turkish people,” European Council President Charles Michel said on X.

He also expressed solidarity with the victims, their families, and Turkey.

The EU has condemned the terrorist attack and expressed solidarity with Turkey, as well as wishing the injured a speedy recovery, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on X.

“We support Turkey in its fight against terrorism,” noted Oliver Varhelyi, EU commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, wishing recovery for injured officers.

Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, head of the EU delegation in Turkey, also condemned the attack and wished the wounded police officers a speedy recovery.

“I am following the developments in Ankara very carefully. The Italian government strongly condemns all forms of terrorism,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X, adding that Italy stands in full solidarity with Turkey.

Nacho Sanchez Amor, a Spanish politician and European Parliament member, was among those who condemned the terrorist attack.

“Appalled by the terrorist attack in Ankara today … We condemn all forms of terrorism and stand firmly in support of our friend and ally Turkey in its fight against it,” British Ambassador to Turkey Jill Morris said in a post on X.

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

Albanian Foreign Ministry and Foreign Minister Igli Hasani also condemned the terror attack, expressing full solidarity with Turkey.

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

The Kosovar Foreign Ministry also condemned the terror attack, saying it stands “in full solidarity with Turkey and reject any form of terrorist violence.”

President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Prime Minister Unal Ustel both issued statements condemning the terrorist attack.

“I wish urgent healing to the security members injured in the treacherous terrorist attack that occurred this morning in front of the entrance gate of the Ministry of Interior General Directorate of Security in the homeland of the Republic of Turkey, and I strongly condemn the attack,” TRNC President Tatar said on X.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement condemning the attack.

In a statement, the ministry expressed full solidarity with the Turkish people and government, wishing all injured a speedy recovery.

It reiterated Egypt’s rejection of all forms of terrorism and violence that jeopardize stability and intimidate citizens.

The Pakistani government has condemned the “heinous” terrorist attack, saying “Pakistan stands resolutely with our Turkish brethren in their fight against the menace of terrorism,” the country’s embassy in Ankara stated on X.

Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar also said in a separate statement on X: “I have no doubt that under the dynamic leadership of my brother (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan, the resolute Turkish nation will emerge ever stronger from this challenge.”

Meanwhile, PML-N president and ex-premier Shehbaz Sharif prayed for the swift recovery of the injured policemen. “The people of Pakistan express unwavering solidarity with the citizens and government of Turkiye,” he said.

The US Embassy in Ankara also issued a statement on X, saying Washington “offer our condolences to those injured and wish them a speedy recovery. We stand in solidarity with Turkey against terrorism.”

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned “all forms of violence and terrorism that could destabilize security and stability.”

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the kingdom rejects all forms of violence, terrorism, and extremism, and pledged support to Turkey in its efforts to eliminate terrorist elements.

In a written statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack “in the strongest terms” and stressed support for Turkey in the face of terrorism.

The ministry underlined its confidence in Turkey’s ability to confront and defeat terrorism, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah also reiterated his country’s support for all measures taken by Ankara to confront terrorist acts and maintain its security and stability.

 

 

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