The largest terrorist attack in Ankara in Turkey’s history has killed 95 people – RIA Novosti

ANKARA, Oct. 11 – RIA Novosti, Fedor Smirnov. The largest terrorist attack in the Turkish capital in the history of the country, hosted by two suicide bombers to anti-war rally on Saturday morning, caused the death of 95 people, 246 injured.

© AP Photo / Burhan Ozbilici

The death toll shocked Turkey

Two explosions at intervals of three seconds have occurred in the morning in the capital of Turkey, near the railway station at 10.04 MSK before the protest rally organized by trade unions and social organizations against the outbreak of violence because of the Turkish-Kurdish conflict in the southeast of the country. The meeting was to be held under the slogan “No to war, peace, harmony, work and democracy.” Two suicide bombers blew themselves up before passing through a metal detector under the overpass at a time when several dozens of the protesters walked under it.

According to the Prime Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, for the attack could be an “Islamic state” Kurdistan Workers’ Party, and two levoekstremistskie groups – Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party (front) and the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party.

First, the authorities said 30 of the victims, but in the late afternoon health minister Mehmet Myuezzinoglu said shocked the entire country numbers – 86 victims.

“The cluster of people has led to the increase of victims, and prevented ambulances to quickly get to the scene and take victims to hospitals,” – the minister said.

Later Prime Minister’s office said that the number of those killed in the terrorist attack has risen to 95, injured 246 people, of which 48 are in intensive care.

The police immediately cordoned off the area after the attack, an area of ​​about 2 million square meters around the scene. About 3 thousand participants of the failed rally some time in the area of ​​the incident and tried to organize a spontaneous protest that prevented the police used tear gas, to disperse protesters shot in the air.

According to the Ministry of Health of Turkey, 10.11 first ambulance help arrived on the scene, there was sent to all 56 machines. The evacuation of the wounded were involved in five sanitary helicopters. In cooperation with the Red Crescent Society is doing everything necessary to help the wounded, but hospitals lack blood.

The reaction of the authorities and Kurdish opposition

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in connection with the terrorist act urgently returned from Istanbul to Ankara and canceled his visit to Turkmenistan, scheduled for Monday. He interrupted his tour of the country and the prime minister, who convened an emergency meeting of the Security Council, and later announced the country’s three-day national mourning. Also, for three days suspended the election campaign for the elections in the Turkish parliament, scheduled for November 1.

“I strongly condemn the terrorist attack that took place in Ankara. This inhuman action aimed at the destabilization of Turkey and aimed at the destruction of our unity, brotherhood and our future. We have to be together. The best answer to terrorists is our solidarity. I call on all to maintain sanity. Our law enforcement agencies will do everything possible to investigate a terrorist attack, “- said on Saturday, a written statement of Erdogan.

Leader Kurdish Democracy Party Selahattin Demirtas Peoples said that among the dead there are the supporters of his party, which was the main target of the attack. According to him, the responsibility for the attack bears the ruling Turkish Justice and Development Party (AKP).

“As long as the SGP is not clearly distanced itself from terrorism, the life of Turkish citizens every day and hour will be under threat. We do not expect that the organizers of the terrorist act will be found and brought to justice, and someone from the government will therefore resign. And once retired, they do not go away, they management, this situation suits. This act of terrorism is not directed against our state and unity of the people, it is an attack on the people of the state, “- said Demirtas journalists.

This statement of Kurdish politics has caused a sharp reaction Davutoglu, called it a provocation.

In connection with the terrorist attack in Ankara Turkey introduced a temporary ban on all forms of media to publish some of the material, said the Supreme Council for Radio and Television of Turkey.

“The administration of Prime Minister of Turkey issued a warning to all the media of the country on a temporary ban on publication and distribution of photo, video and printed materials related to the terrorist attack in Ankara, “- said the agency.

Condolences from Russia

One of the first foreign leaders a telegram of condolences to Erdogan sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It is necessary to unite efforts in the struggle against this evil. What happened in Turkey, and I take this opportunity to bring condolences to the Turkish people, the President of Turkey – is, of course, a blatant terrorist attacks, terrorist crime with many victims. And, of course, is an attempt to destabilize the situation in the neighboring and friendly country for us in Turkey. Moreover, it is done during the election campaign. The sheer provocation, of course, “- said Putin later in the air” Russia 1 “.

” But effective we will be only in the fight against this evil, when we are together to deal with it “- he added.

to respond quickly to the attack, and the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“We condemn this monstrous action, express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. The tragedy in Ankara reaffirmed the highest priority to the fight against terrorism and its numerous structures in the region, the need for joint efforts by all regional and extra-regional partners, “- says the statement of the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.

Also, the Internet appeared information that the Russian Foreign Ministry reportedly is working on recommendations for the Russians not to visit Turkey in connection with the explosion on Saturday, but the very foreign ministry it has denied.

The tracks lead to the IG

Explosive devices used in terrorist attacks in Ankara on Saturday, as well as Suruci, in July this year, which killed 33 Kurdish activists in the explosion of a suicide bomber from “Islamic state”, were identical, reported Anadolu agency, citing a source in the police. So the same as in Suruci, explosive device, triggered in Ankara, it was made on the basis of TNT and feature striking elements in the form of metal balls. At the scene were found fragments of the bodies of two suicide bombers, whose identification is ongoing. Investigate and record CCTV cameras confiscated terrorist attack in the area.

Demirtas also pointed to a similar handwriting organizers of the terrorist attacks in Ankara and Diyarbakir Suruci, where in June the rally in front of hundreds of people, two explosions. As a result, three people were killed, injured about 80. The investigation of this terrorist act, the responsibility for which the authorities impose on “Islamic state”, continues.

The main purpose – to destabilize the country

The attack in Ankara is aimed at destabilizing the situation in Turkey, RIA Novosti said the professor at the University TOBB (Ankara) Togrul Ismail.

“The terrorist attack, who would have her either standing, profitable the destructive forces that want to lead the country to chaos, sow in her panic and cause confrontation. For these may be groups such as the “Islamic state” and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. But I do not think that the organizers of the terrorist act will achieve its goal. Anything can happen, but the situation should not worsen so that the authorities will have to go to the transfer of the parliamentary elections, “- said Ismail.

According to him, the president and the government do the right thing, calling for calm, but now there are calls for the resignation of the Interior Minister, and further accusations against the government, which is temporary and valid until the scheduled November 1, parliamentary elections may increase. The main thing now – security, stressed Ismail, while himself a terrorist attack is a big miscalculation law enforcement officers, who failed to prevent it.

Section Head of Turkey of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences Natalya Ulchenko noted that the shortage of information about the what happened is difficult to draw conclusions about the impact that the attack could have on the internal political life of the country. However, the very act of terrorism is a testament to the fact that the situation in Turkey remains “sharp enough”, she added.

Speaking of the influence on the outcome of the upcoming parliamentary elections, Ulchenko noted that “the fight will be tough enough.” The very same terrorist attack, she said, playing against Erdogan and the President of the Party of Justice and Development.