Bomb-laden vehicle discovered in Ankara

Sniffer dogs discovered a bomb-laden vehicle in an Ankara multi-storey car park as police increased security measures in Turkey fearing September 11 anniversary attacks.

Ankara governor Kemal Onal said a large amount of explosives were stashed in the minibus, which had a fake licence plate.

Bomb disposal experts were trying to eliminate the threat, but houses near the multi-storey car park were evacuated as a precaution.

“A possible disaster has been prevented,” Onal told reporters at the site.

Suicide bombers linked to al-Qaida hit Istanbul in 2003 with truck bombs, killing 58 people in attacks that targeted two synagogues, the British Consulate and a British bank.

In February, a court sentenced seven people to life in prison for the bombings.