Europe

Terror plot in Ankara – Erdogan threatens with retaliation

Again, Terror in Turkey: In the government district of the capital Ankara explodes a bomb. At least 28 people are killed. Notes on the perpetrators there are not yet. President Erdogan announces retaliation.

A good month after the suicide attack on German tourists in Istanbul is the Turkish capital of Ankara by a heavy bombing have been shaken. The target was a convoy of buses to the army, at least 28 people were killed and more than 60 injured.

Soldiers among the dead

The Turkish armed forces shared with, the plot was on Wednesday to 18.31 p.m. (local time; 17.31 CET) happened when the military convoy at a red light I kept. The army confirmed that among the dead also soldiers, however, did not disclose their number.

Burning Bus at the Anschlagsort

According to a report of a broadcasting company of NTV occurred the Explosion near a residential area for senior military officers. The Detonation was in many Parts of Ankara to hear. Numerous paramedics and firefighters were in use. Over the Anschlagsort, near the headquarters of the General staff and Parliament, rose thick smoke. The scene of the crime was, the police cordoned off.

Erdogan announces vengeance on

The Turkish President Erdogan

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a resolute response to the attack. Turkey will of their “right to self-defense”, explained the head of state. The fight against Terror will be even more determined continued.

The government imposed for reasons of “national security,” a news blackout about the attack, but not for official announcements. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said a planned trip to Brussels. Originally he wanted to be on the sidelines of the EU summit, among others, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the refugee crisis advice.

Speculation about the masterminds

To the fact well-known so far, no organization. A senior representative of the security forces, said immediately after the Explosion, there were the first indications that extremists of the banned Kurdish workers ‘ party PKK, the deed would have. In security sources in the Kurdish Southeast of the country, it was said, however, may put the Terrormiliz “Islamic state” (IS) was behind the assassination attempt. The Turkish air force bombed on Wednesday evening, according to Iraqi media reports of the positions of the PKK in Northern Iraq. If there was a connection with the attack, is unclear.

The editorial recommends

Turkey bombed the Kurds in Northern Syria

Ankara finished Anti-PKK operation in Cizre

After several months of urban combat prefer the Turkish army out of the city in Anatolia, according to the government. But elsewhere against militant Kurds fought. (11.02.2016)

Retaliation because of Istanbul: Massive Turkish attacks on IS

200 jihadists of the IS were killed: The Turkish government responds militarily to the terrorist attack in Istanbul. The security measures across the country should be increased. (14.01.2016)

After the collapse of the peace process in the summer of 2015, attack, PKK fighters again and again the security forces. At the same time the army in the Southeast of Turkey with full force against the rebels. In the since 1984, ongoing conflict, more than 40,000 people have been killed. In the past few days, Turkey had intensified airstrikes against Kurdish militias in the North of the neighbouring country Syria have flown.

In the past, but had also repeatedly attacks given, not by the PKK were committed, but the IS or linksterroristischen groups charged. In January pulled a suicide bomber in Istanbul eleven German tourists to death. The government made the IS for this fact that is responsible. In October were in Ankara at the most severe attack in the recent history of Turkey more than a Hundred people have been killed. The aim at that time were participants of an anti-government peace rally. The government also made for the IS responsible.

wl/SC (dpa, afp, rtr)