POLITICS > Double bomb attack hits AKP HQ, ministry building in Ankara

ANKARA – Doğan News Agency

One person has been injured in a bomb explosion in front of the Turkish Justice Ministry in Ankara late yesterday, while the Justice and Development Party (AKP) headquarters in the city was also attacked by a flamethrower.

A Turkish flag was put on the AKP headquarters building to cover the damage caused by the flamethrower attack. AA photo / Mehmet Ali ÖZCAN

One person has been injured in a bomb explosion in front of the Turkish Justice Ministry in Ankara late yesterday, while the Justice and Development Party (AKP) headquarters in the city was also attacked by a flame thrower.

Police teams and ambulances were immediately transferred to the scenes after the blasts, with the police taking strict measures in the surrounding area. Police precautions were increased across the city.

One person was injured in a double fragmentation bomb attack somewhere close to the car park of the ministry, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin said in a televised interview. The injured individual was the spouse of a ministry employee and was released after treatment, he said.

Interior Minister Muammer Güler said in a televised interview that some equipment of the thrower was found close to the scene and that police were searching the area.

The minister also confirmed that the attack on the AKP building was probably realized by a flamethrower attack.

Double bomb attack hits AKP HQ, ministry building in Ankara

Doğan News Agency reported that the bomb hit a point between the eight and seventh floors, where the office of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is located.

Erdoğan was in Denmark for an official visit when the attacks happened.

Interior Minister Muammer Güler has denied reports that two people were detained in connection to the attacks.

Attacks aimed at ‘resolution process’: PM

Erdoğan strongly condemned the attacks on March 20 with a statement from Denmark, where he moved from the Netherlands for another official visit. “The target of these attacks, which took place while we were passing through a very sensitive process, are clearly democracy, the resolution process, our national will as well as our fraternity,” he said during his speech at the Turkish-Danish Forum. “Terrorism is evil whatever the target is, however, targeting a political party, the most important element of democracy, national will and pluralism, is much worse.”

Regarding the police investigation, the prime minister told reporters earlier that “Serious information and findings have been gathered,” adding that a more detailed statement would be made later.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said it was possible the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) might have been the culprit.

“Although not being definite, the terror organization DHKP/C may have carried out the attacks,” Arınç said, noting that certain findings suggest the organization might have been involved.

Arınç, however, did not exclude the possibility that the attack was an act of sabotage aimed at the ongoing resolution process, while recalling the killing of three PKK members in Paris on Jan. 9.

“I consider this as an action launched against democracy,” he said.

Separate reports said a written statement carrying the name of the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) was left at the scene in front of the ministry.

Police have been continuing operations against the group since it claimed responsibility for the Feb. 1 suicide attack targeting the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, which killed one person, as well as the attacker, Ecevit Şanlı.

The attack also comes at a time when the Turkish government is engaged in its process to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue.

First video footage from scene of double bomb attack in Turkish capital

March/19/2013

PRINTER FRIENDLY

Send to friend »

READER COMMENTS

Click for Hürriyet Daily News comment guidelines

Blue Dotterel

3/20/2013 8:17:52 PM

Violence is not a solution to the problems related to AKP rule. Active participatory democracy is the way forward. Hopefully the perpetrators will be caught and brought to justice.

DutchTurk JANICAR

3/20/2013 6:06:30 PM

@joe, the DHKP-C is active for a few decades now and they have always had these type of attacks in the past and this attack is just a response on the crack down against their terror organisation. If you think that these guys will side with Israel or Bashar Al-Assad or IR Iran, than you lost contact with reality, they supplied their attacks always from inside Turkey. All those countries have never been Turkey's friend and i can sum a few more neighboring countries.

joe Maddin

3/20/2013 3:53:22 PM

@Dutchturk It looks like an internal issue but I doubt it is. Any enemy, and Turkey has plenty now, Israel, Iraq, Syria, can well use the label DHKP/C or use their militants to perform acts of terrorism. Note that neither Syria , nor Israel nor the PKK has been mentioned. Just suggesting that may show that the foreign policy of Turkey is biting deep inside Turkey. Turkey is on for a new wave of terrorist attacks. Israel, Iraq and Syria will not stay inactive in front of Erdogan's arrogance

mara mcglothin

3/20/2013 3:52:09 PM

DUTCHTURK Inappropriate comments are just that! I don't think it is a matter of enemies for the AKP. I think it has been the big mistake to allow others to have free reign in the country. PRISONER The AKP has put their trust in several groups that are not to be trusted, and this is the result. Very sad day.

ismail demir

3/20/2013 3:22:30 PM

joe, almost all neighboors are enemy each other in middle east and balkans.

The Prisoner

3/20/2013 1:53:18 PM

The AKP and it's followers have made too many enemies now and sympathy for Turkey is running at an all time low with the ordinary citizen in the 'free world'. Turkey may see itself come under further attacks diplomatically as well as (unfortunately) violent attacks by 'freedom fighters/terrorists' (take your pick on terminology). It's a real shame as the majority of Turks are fantastic people but this government is making too many enemies on every side.

DutchTurk JANICAR

3/20/2013 1:38:52 PM

@american, yes american and as long as your buildings can dodge the planes flying in.

american american

3/20/2013 1:21:19 PM

as long as you don't fly over syria, eh dutchie?

DutchTurk JANICAR

3/20/2013 10:41:22 AM

@ joe, this is more like an internal issue i suppose, but about the neighboring countries, we have dealt with them before for several centuries and we are able to deal with any neighbor again, just to inform you.

Nageyec Conduz

3/20/2013 8:58:30 AM

This is a cowardly act which will neither break nor hinder the public will to making Turkey peaceful and prosperous place to live.

< >