Dozens die in Ankara suicide bomb

At least 34 people were killed and over 125 others were injured after a suicide car bomb was detonated near bus stops in the heart of the Turkish capital.

The blast, which Turkish police believe was carried out by Kurdish militants, occurred on Ankara’s main boulevard, close to the main square and a public park.

Turkish health minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu said 19 of the wounded were in serious condition. He said that 30 people died at the scene, while the other four perished at hospitals. Two of the dead were believed to be the assailants, he added.

Interior minister Efkan Ala said the attack, which came as Turkey prepared to launch large-scale military operations against Kurdish militants in two towns, would not deter the country from its fight against terrorism.

He confirmed the blast was the result of a car bomb, which targeted civilians on Ataturk Bulvari close to Kizilay square.

The private NTV news channel said several vehicles caught fire following the blast.

Dogan Asik, 28, said he was on a board a packed bus when the explosion occurred. “There were about 40 people,” said Mr Asik, who sustained injuries on his face and arm. “It (the bus) slowed down. A car went by us, and ‘boom’ it exploded.”

Police sealed off the area and pushed onlookers and journalists back, warning that there could be a second bomb.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, although Kurdish militants and the Islamic State group (IS) have carried out bombings in the city recently. A far-left militant group is also active in Turkey.

The bombing is the third in the city in five months and comes as Turkey is faced with an array of issues, including renewed fighting with the Kurdish rebels, threats from IS and the Syrian refugee crisis.

The incident occurred just three weeks after a suicide car bombing in the capital targeted buses carrying military personnel, killing 29 people.

Yesterday’s attack also came two days after the US Embassy issued a security warning about a potential plot to attack Turkish government buildings and housing in one Ankara neighbourhood and asked its citizens to avoid those areas.