Turkey's Interior Affairs Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Sunday said that a suicide bomber detonated an explosive near the Turkish Parliament in the capital Ankara. Another assailant was killed in a shootout with the police.
Two police officers were slightly injured during the attack near the Parliament building. The bombing took place hours before the Turkish Parliament was due to reopen after a summer recess.
According to Yerlikaya, two "terrorists" arrived near the building of the Internal Affairs Ministry in a light vehicle to carry out the bombing. "One of the terrorists blew himself up and the other was neutralised," he said on social media platform X.
There was no immediate information on the assailants. However, Kurdish and far-left militant groups as well as the Islamic State group have carried out deadly attacks throughout the country in the past.
Meanwhile, access to the city centre has been cordoned off by Turkish police. The two injured police officers are undergoing treatment in a hospital, according to media reports.
Before information about the suicide bombing, Turkish media reported a loud explosion in Ankara followed by gunfire, which startled many. There is no immediate details of other casualties.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said an investigation has been launched into the attack. “These attacks will in no way hinder Turkey’s fight against terrorism. Our fight against terrorism will continue with more determination,” he said on X
Egypt, which has normalized ties with Turkey after a decade of tensions, condemned the attack. A statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry offered solidarity with Turkey. The US Embassy in Ankara also the condemned the attack, saying it stands in solidarity with Turkey.
(with AP inputs)
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