Ankara bombing: President Erdogan vows to bring terror 'to its knees'

 

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to bring terrorism "to its knees" after an attack in the capital Ankara that killed at least 36 people.

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Mr Erdogan said the suicide car bomb would serve only to strengthen the resolve of Turkey's security forces.
The blast in the key transport hub of Guven Park injured more than 100. At least one suspected bomber also died.
Turkish planes bombed targets in Iraq of the Kurdish rebel PKK, which officials suspect is behind the attack.
Eleven warplanes carried out air strikes on 18 targets including ammunition dumps and shelters, the army said.
Meanwhile there are reports of curfews being imposed in areas of south-eastern Turkey as security operations are carried out against Kurdish militants.
No group has admitted carrying out the Ankara attack, but government sources had cast suspicion on the outlawed PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party).
Interior Minister Efkan Ala said an investigation would conclude on Monday and those responsible would be named.

Kurdish rebels have carried out a series of attacks on Turkish soil in recent months, and security forces have raided Kurdish areas, after a ceasefire ended last year. The so-called Islamic State group has also targeted Ankara recently.

Turkey is part of the US-led coalition against IS and allows coalition planes to use its air base at Incirlik for raids on Iraq and Syria.
It has also been carrying out a campaign of bombardment against Syrian Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG), which it regards as a extension of the PKK.

 

Turkish Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu told a news conference that 30 people were killed at the scene and seven died later in hospital. At least one of the dead is believed to be an attacker.
Mr Muezzinoglu said more than 100 people were being treated at several hospitals in Ankara, of whom at least 15 are in a critical condition.