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28 INTERNATIONAL AWEMainta
Suicide Blast Strikes Ankara near Parliament
Building, Leaving Two Police Officers Injured
ON October 1, 2023, a shocking incident unfolded in the
heart of the Turkish capital, Ankara, as two attackers, one of
them a suicide bomber, carried out a devastating blast near
the parliament building. This act of violence prompted an
immediate response from the country’s Ministry of Interior,
which swiftly launched an investigation into the “terrorist”
attack.
The attackers, whose identities have not been disclosed,
met a tragic end during the attack. One of them detonated
explosives, taking his own life, while the other was swiftly
neutralized by authorities. The aftermath of the blast left
two police officers injured, serving as a stark reminder of the
inherent risks faced by law enforcement personnel.
The attackers approached the scene in a Renault cargo
vehicle, which was later found parked with shattered
windows and open doors amidst the debris-strewn streets.
The location of the explosion was particularly significant,
as it occurred in an area housing ministerial buildings and
the Turkish parliament, a site of utmost importance in the
nation’s political landscape.
This incident marks the first bombing in Ankara since 2016,
Dialuna, 2 October 2023
and its timing is especially concerning. It took place on the
very day when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sched-
uled to attend the opening session of parliament, located
just one kilometer away from the blast site.
According to a senior Turkish official, the attackers had
hijacked the vehicle used in the attack and tragically killed its
driver in Kayseri, a city approximately 260 kilometers south-
east of Ankara. One of the injured police officers suffered
shrapnel injuries, adding to the gravity of the situation.
While the authorities have not identified any specific armed
group responsible for the attack, it is a grim reminder of the
challenges Turkey faces in maintaining security and coun-
tering terrorism within its borders.
International reactions to the attack have been swift,
with President of the European Council Charles Michel
condemning the incident and the EU Commissioner for
Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi expressing support for Turkey’s
fight against terrorism.
As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the
motivations behind this heinous act and the impact it may
have on Turkey’s political landscape and its ongoing efforts
to combat terrorism.