'Police bomb' kills peace marchers in Ankara

[Michael K.]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/10/explosions-hit-turkey-ankara-peace-march-151010073827607.html


Interior ministry reports
WAR & CONFLICT
Deadly explosions hit rally in Turkey's Ankara
Blasts at peace rally in the centre of the capital kill at least 30 people, injure dozens, interior ministry says.

10 Oct 2015 09:51 GMT | War & Conflict, Middle East, Turkey

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An online video showed the moment one of the blasts at the peace rally in Ankara [Via @dokuz8haber]

Two explosions have rocked a road junction in the centre of the Turkish capital Ankara, killing at least 30 people and injuring dozens of others, the interior ministry said.

The blasts took place several minutes apart, with the first going off at around 10:00am (0700 GMT),  local media reported.

A video on social media showed the moment of one explosion: young people were dancing and waving banners as a massive fireball erupts.

The explosions occurred near a train station where people were gathering for a peace march to protest against the conflict between the state and Kurdish fighters in southeast Turkey.

Video footage on social media showed several bodies lying on the ground, as survivors tried to give first aid to the wounded.

Emergency crews were at the scene, responding to the injuries, with ambulances rushing off to several local hospitals. There were reports of shortages of blood and calls for donations.

Demonstrators angered by the attack on their fellow activists shouted "police murderers!" at the scene of the blasts but were then dispersed as the security forces intervened.

The peace rally was called ahead of a snap election on November 1 and after violence erupted in July between Turkish army and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) armed group, ending a two-year ceasefire.

The unrest was kicked off by the 20 July bombing that hit a pro-Kurdish group's meeting in the Turkish southern town of Suruc, which the authorities have blamed on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group.

Turkish government officials said Saturday's blasts in Turkey were a "terrorist attack" and that they were investigating claims that a suicide bomber was responsible.