Ankara's governor says mall attack carried out by suicide bomber
Bomb kills six, injures 100 in Turkish capital Ankara; police suspect bombing carried out by Kurdish rebels.
By ReutersA suicide bomber carried out the attack which killed six people in a crowded shopping mall Turkey's capital on Tuesday, and the type of explosives used point to Kurdish separatists, Ankara's governor said on Wednesday.
"The examinations showed the body parts belong to Guven Akkus, a man born in Sivas [Turkey] in 1979," Kemal Onal told reporters after an emergency government meeting called following the attack, the worst in the capital in at least a decade.
A security source, who declined to be named, told Reuters all eyes were on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) - which is waging an armed struggle against the Turkish state for greater Kurdish rights - saying the bombing bore the hallmarks of the outlawed guerrilla movement.
"It is understood the incident was caused by the explosion of a plastic [explosives]bomb on this person's body and the incident's style matches the methods of the separatist organization," the governor said.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been fighting for an ethnic homeland since 1984 and Ankara blames it for more than 30,000 deaths. It has carried out suicide bombings in the past.
Separately, Adana Governor Ilhan Atis told state-run Anatolian news agency that a would-be suicide bomber had been detained in the southern city while trying to escape in a car.
The woman had 11.3 kg of explosive, two hand bombs and a dozen detonators, he added.
"I congratulate our police and gendarmerie, they did not let the suicide bomber upset us," Atis said.
Ankara governor Onal said 91 people were wounded in Tuesday's attack, which came at a time of heightened political tension in the EU-aspirant country. Authorities had earlier put the number of wounded at 102. Several Pakistanis were injured.
Turkish media reported earlier that eight people had been detained in connection with the blast. The governor gave no details and police declined to comment.
Leading newspapers Hurriyet and Radikal said that the blast took place shortly before senior military commanders, including armed forces chief of General Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit were due to pass the area to go to a defence industry reception.
Turkey's lira currency fell on Wednesday, hit by worries over domestic instability after the bomb attack.
"We have seen a vicious, ruthless terror attack at Ankara's busiest time," Erdogan told reporters at the scene of the blast. He said steps would be taken after this attack but did not elaborate.
The extensive blast comes ahead of the busy summer tourism season and July general elections.
Shop windows were shattered, debris strewn across the street and police cordoned off the area as rescue workers carried injured people, many covered in blood, into ambulances.
"This is the most horrific scene I have ever seen. It gives me great grief," Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek said, adding the blast occurred at the entrance of the Anafartalar mall.
Also Wednesday, Adana Governor Ilhan Atis told state-run news agency Anatolian that a woman who was detained on Wednesday in the southern Turkish city of Adana had planned to carry out a suicide attack.
Atis said the woman was seized while trying to escape in a car. She had 12.3 kilogrammes of explosive, two hand bombs and 12 detonators in her bag, he said. Another man was also detained.
Rising tensionsThe PKK, considered a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey, ended a unilateral ceasefire on May 18 and security experts had expected attacks to escalate as a result.
Turkey has repeatedly urged Iraq and the United States to crack down on an estimated 4,000 PKK rebels who use northern Iraq as a springboard to attack targets inside Turkey.
Last month, Buyukanit called for a military operation into northern Iraq to quash Turkish Kurdish rebels.
"Our security forces will do whatever necessary from A to Z against terror, there should be no doubt on this," Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told reporters when asked about possible cross-border operations.
Tuesday's explosion comes amid heightened political tension. Erdogan's Islamist-rooted government has called a national election ahead of schedule to resolve a conflict with the secularist elite over a recent presidential election.
The secular establishment, including the military, judges and opposition parties, derailed the government's plan to elect Gul as president, fearing he might weaken the official separation of religion and state.
Kurdish separatists, leftist militants and hardline Islamists have all launched bomb attacks in Turkey in the past.
In 2003, 30 people were killed and 146 wounded when suicide car bombs hit two synagogues in Istanbul. Five days later, 32 people were killed in similar attacks on the British consulate and HSBC bank in the city. The bombs were blamed on Al-Qaida.
Turkey's armed forces Chief of General Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit visited the bomb site. He said in comments broadcast on NTV, that he feared similar blasts could hit other large cities.
The explosion, believed to be one of the worst in the capital in years, comes amid heightened political tension in European Union-applicant Turkey.
Erdogan's ruling AK Party has called a national election ahead of schedule to resolve a conflict with the secularist elite over a recent presidential election.
The secular establishment, including the military, judges and opposition parties, derailed the government's plan to elect Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as president, fearing he might weaken the official separation of religion and state.
The PKK ended a unilateral cease-fire on May 18 and security experts had expected attacks to escalate as a result.
Senior PKK commander Murat Karayilan has blamed Turkish intelligence for recent explosions in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil and said similar blasts would occur in heart of Ankara.
"We must work together against terror in all countries of the world. We see the results of it in America, Britain, Spain, Italy and all places," Erdogan said.
The PKK has been fighting for an ethnic homeland in a campaign of bombings, kidnappings and armed attacks since 1984, and Ankara blames it for more than 30,000 deaths.
Kurdish separatists, leftist militants and hard-line Islamists have all launched bomb attack in Turkey in the past.
In 2003, 30 people were killed and 146 wounded when suicide car bombs hit two synagogues in Istanbul. Five days later, 32 people were killed in similar attacks on the British consulate and HSBC bank in the city. The bombs were blamed on Al-Qaida.
Kurdish rebels launched a series bomb attacks on tourist sites in Turkey last year, killing more than a dozen people.
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The Turkish army was ready to assist USA and in fact had given green light to bringing in equipment to Iskenderun. In addition to the Military, the then PM Abdullah Gul also was supporting that but the members of the TBMM including the AKP and CHP all voted against it. I too don?t like this war but once USA decided to go in it was the interest of Turkey to continue to have a military presence in North Iraq therefore had to go along with it. This way it would have control of the Kandil mountain and maybe prevent the PKK terror. The Turkish military is well aware of this.
No Okan I am not saying that USA is punishing its ally Turkey. What I am saying is that the PKK played a very sinister game in Turkey before the MUHTIRA of 1 March. They demonstrated against the war in Iraq while their Kurd brothers in north Iraq were inviting USA. Weather you like it or not once USA was going to war it would have been Turkyes interest to pass the MUHTIRA so that Turkey could have a saying in the north Iraq. That would have been very bad for the PKK and through the demonstrations in the Turkish street they prevented it and now they can use North Iraq freely. So what I am saying is PKK terrorists played a better game than the AKP government and kept Turkey out of north Iraq.
so i guess that there most be some jews liveing in turkey and they must be the ones that started the trouble and thepals had nothing to do with it ...right it must be the jews right right now that you said it ,,it must be right right.. pitter usa
My Dear Frind David, I thought you would understand what an exclamation mark means, but it seems you have forgotten. Re-read my thanks sentence to USA and Israel for supporting against terrorism :-). My dear Turkish friend, usually half of your sentences is ture, but the rest is irrelevant. It is true that USA handed Apo to Turkey, but why? What our people believe is not a theory but the truth itself. Didn't you follow the statements by White House spokesman, generals etc. that USA is against any armed operation against their beloved child, PKK, in northern Iraq? What part of this is a 'fabricated theory'? Short answer: It was the generals who did not Turkey to pass the motion, not the government; PM, absolutely not.. But It was a correct decision not to poke our nose into the dirty war of Bush and his cohorts. Regards,
#24 David : Do you mean that US punishing Turkey by allowing PKK (terorists) presence at North of Iraq because Turkey did not help the US invasion? It's a shame of US. I am still against the US invasion because what ever you say (WMD or terror) many believe the reason for war was oil. And Middile East is not safer place today. I am not a Saddam supporter but I don't feel sad anymore when I heard that every day some US troops get killed. Nobody talking about 500.000+ Iraqie civilians killed by US.For what? Oil. #26 Jake: You are right. Turkish people did not forget the betrayal of Arabs during WW1. They choose to fight with (christian) Brits against (muslim) Turks. It was their choice, I understand but they should face with the results. Sad but true.
Convincing Turkey that Israel is supporting Kurdish separatists in Turkish Kurdistan is a major strategic goal of the Arab and Islamic world. For Arabs, Turkey is a Sunni Moslem giant and the beating heart of the former Ottoman Empire. It is a major embarrassment for them that Turkey would have close ties with Israel. The claim that Israel supports separatists inside Turkey is a despicable lie. The opposite is true. Israeli investments in southeastern Anatolia help to develop that region for the benefit of Turkey, to the detriment of Kurdish separatists. If Arabs want to understand why Turks turned toward the West and Israel, perhaps they should analyze their own behavior toward fellow-Moslem Turks in the dying days of the Ottoman empire.
The PKK recently denied responsibility on the attack in Ulus. If they had done it they would be bragging about it. So now it seems like it is the ultra religious did that atrocity. The face of the perpetrator Guven Akkus with his typical Islamic style mustache suggests that. But let?s not jump the gun until it is proven. No matter who did it this is a terrible act of terror just like those executed in malls, busses and restaurants in Israel by Arab Terrorists. If the world really wants to end these terrible acts nations should reunite and stop calling those who do not hurt them freedom fighters no matter which ideology they support. These acts only hurt the ideology that they represent and delegitimize them.
What part of my posting is not true? You wrote that Turkey is grateful of USA and Israel for helping with fighting terror. Isn?t this what I posted when I mentioned that USA handed APO to Turkey? Yes in the streets of Turkey people believe that USA is behind the PKK terror but people in the streets of Turkey believe in many other fabricated conspiracy theories too. However it does not mean these theories are true. The fact is that 4 years ago when USA needed the help of Turkey to pass troops to Iraq the AKP government refused it under the pressure of the street demonstrators who were really PKK supporters. Because of that Turkey has lost its control of the North Iraq. You only have your shortsighted AKP leaders to blame for that.
If I walk the streets of Cairo, Amman, Damascus, and Riyadh, they will tell me that the Israelis are behind high gas prices, world domination, the weather, and why they're Daddy's try to make it with 5 year old girls. But I guess the man on the Arabian street knows all about everything. That is why they fight each other to the death over some 13th century hullaballoo between Mohammed's second cousin and his 3rd uncle.
First of all, If you walk in the streets in any city of Turkey and ask even a moron who is behind PKK, you will definitely get the answer: USA. It is neither a secret, nor insider info. Second, many papers -all secular, Milliyet Daily for example- published many photos of Americans enjoying discussions with the leaders of PKK in Nortern Iraq. Many TV stations showed Israeli Inteligence members training PKK members in Iraq. Turkey has always been grateful to USA and Israel for their support(!) against terrorism. David, please send your postings to 3-year-old kids. Regards,
Steve, The name and photo of the suicide bomber are on the papers today. He is a Turkish citizen from a Central Anatolian city. Regards,
Jane, I won't write too much to show how nonsense your post is, but just curious: are you dreaming? Could you please explain how you established the relationship between a PKK member suicide bomber and a Muslim in this terror attack? Regards,
It'sbound to happen wherever radical Muslims live and preach their violent takeover of the world. I'm not running and I'm not hiding and I am NOT wearing a burqa!!! and neither are my daughters or granddaughters.
Thanks to the Israeli Mossad stationed in northern Iraqi provence of Kurdistan for assisting Kurdish rebels in Turkey to carry out such bombing to destabilze Turkey despite being an ally.
This is another fascinating article on Turkey's current political dilemmas. Again, from the Brookings Institution. www.brookings.edu http://www.brookings.edu/views/articles/gordon/20060525.pdf
The PKK is becoming increasingly active in northern Iraq, which understandably serves as a real threat to Turkish security. The United States is doing nothng about it. In fact, recently the United States warned Turkey against pursuing action against the Kurds in northern Iraq. This is why so many countries in the region opposed the Iraq war, because it was sure to destabilize the region. Powder keg, anyone? Now, it looks like that is starting to happen, and that is partly why Turkey is starting to look elsewhere for allies who share its concerns, like Iran. Check out this article from brookings.edu: http://www.brookings.edu/views/articles/fellows/taspinar20070212.htm
Israel and USA never supporter nor did they supply the PKK. In fact USA helped the head of PKK Abdullah Ocalan to be captured. Turkey has been a member of NATO and a friend of Israel. Islamists have been fabricating these rumors in order to weaken Turkey s alliance with the west and good relations with Israel.
Just wondering if the fact that Pakistani was killed might suggest that Pakastani was bomber (planted bomb, helped, whatever). Which would suggest not Kurds.
As radical Islam expands its war on everyone else all over the world we wimp out, debate human rights and look for any excuse not to fight them. Why don't we just throw in the towel, allow them to spread their evil and hide under our beds until they go away......This was bound to happen in Turkey sooner or later.
Can't you people come up with anything intelligent to offer. Mark Lincoln should leave Texas / America and go live somewhere in the jungle. Talk to the monkeys. Watcher needs to get a life and not wait for Swiss or Marylyn to fight his battles.
And you are wrong. America and Israel did not support PKK, which is Marxist and anti-American. Syria supported PKK, so that it could find away to get rid of its 100,000's of Syrian Kurds without Syrian citizenship by sending them to fight and die in Turkey. Syria also supported PKK as a political tool to pressure Turkey to return the Hatay province, much as it supports Hizbullah as a tool for the Golan. Hatay is the site of the ancient gems Alexendretta and Antioch, AKA the "Syrian Gates", by far the most prized strip of coast along the Eastern Mediterranean. But Turkey made it quite clear what would happen if Syria continue to instigate cross-border terrorism, and suddenly Syria forgot about its "sacred land" and made peace with Turkey on Turkey's terms.
I think your post is complete bs of the worst kind. It is time to for you and other islamofascist appologists to put up or shut up. Where is your proof that either the US or Israel supports the PPK? Proof, not more bs - real proof from reputable sources - let's see it now.
intresting. now they are using it in Turkey.
And so, the ongoing plan to blame all the world's troubles on Jewish people, Israel, the Occupation, any Israeli PM, George W. Bush, and/or the USA now has a new standard to beat! Correct this time if incorrect, but the standard is now 34 minutes. Congrats to all the entries...
Leader of the PPK ,Abdullah Ocalan had been harboured for years by Syria,before being captured by the Turks. Lincoln suggests Syria and Israel and the U.S. were supporting the PPK,in order to "make troubles for Iran"?! Syria has been best buddies with Iran btw. The Kurds are splitted into their Turkish,Iraqi and Iranian factions(additionally splitted and sometimes fighting among themselves) and it was the Iraqi Kurds which have been supported by the U.S. Way back in the 70ies they had also been supported by Israel ,before the Shah cut the supply route to them thru Iran .
...taking to Islamic politics thus enabling Turkey to fight the "Kurdish terrorism" at home in the north of Irak? Erdogan is in charge of Turkey's PM.
Swiss or Marilyn shld be able to elaborate. and its precisely coz of these reasons that theres a rise in anti-semitism in europe. shame on israel! end apartheid
The United States and Israel have been supporting and supplying the PPK for years. The theory being that the PPK makes trouble for Iran. The problem is that the PPK makes even more trouble for Turkey. That they are supplying the explosives and training used to attack their ally, Turkey, does not affect men of the sensibilities of Bush and Olmert. That the US and Israel are partially responsible for supplying terrorists who ruthlessly attack Turkey is not missed by the Turks. Nothing like the fools who are creating a common threat to drive Turkey and Iran together as they have driven Iran and Syria together.
with the Kurdish desire for independence. But if they are going to resort to terror tactics and purposely kill innocent civilians, then, in my eyes, they are no better thatn other Islamist or Palestinian terrorists.
These bombings are part of the world Islamofascist push to implement sharia and put and end to the separation between mosque and state. Just like in Israel/Palestine. All you apologists, wake up and smell the jihad before its too late.