October 10, 2015

At least 30 die in twine explosions at Ankara peace rally

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Saturday 10 Oct 2015 - 13:47 Makkah mean time-27-12-1436

Ankara (IINA) - At least 30 people were killed on Saturday following twin explosions in Turkey’s capital Ankara, which apparently targeted activists gathering for a peace rally organized by leftist and pro-Kurdish groups, according to media reports.
Turkish government officials described the blast outside the main train station as a "terrorist attack", and said they were investigating claims that a suicide bomber was responsible. The blasts took place several minutes apart, with the first going off at around 10:00am (0700 GMT), local media reported. A video on social media showed the moment of one explosion: young people were dancing and waving banners as a massive fireball erupts. The explosions occurred near a train station where people were gathering for a peace march to protest against the conflict between the state and Kurdish fighters in southeast Turkey. Video footage on social media showed several bodies lying on the ground, as survivors tried to give first aid to the wounded. 
Emergency crews were at the scene, responding to the injuries, with ambulances rushing off to several local hospitals. There were reports of shortages of blood and calls for donations. Demonstrators angered by the attack on their fellow activists shouted "police murderers!" at the scene of the blasts but were then dispersed as the security forces intervened. The peace rally was called ahead of a snap election on November 1 and after violence erupted in July between Turkish army and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) armed group, ending a two-year ceasefire.
The unrest was kicked off by the 20 July bombing that hit a pro-Kurdish group's meeting in the Turkish southern town of Suruc, which the authorities have blamed on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group. Turkish government officials said Saturday's blasts in Turkey were a "terrorist attack" and that they were investigating claims that a suicide bomber was responsible.
HA/IINA

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