News / Europe
Ankara Bomb Attack Kills 34; Erdogan Vows to Fight Terrorism
March 14, 2016 12:15 AM
Turkish officials expect to announce Monday the conclusions of their investigation into a bombing Sunday in the country's capital, Ankara, that killed at least 34 people and drew condemnations from across the world.
The blast happened near Kizilay square, a key shopping and transportation hub near foreign embassies and government buildings.
Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu said it was a car bomb that targeted civilians at a bus stop, and that 125 people were wounded.
The attack came two days after the U.S. embassy issued a security warning about a potential plot in central Ankara.
The United States quickly condemned the attack and reaffirmed its "strong partnership with our NATO ally Turkey in combating the shared threat of terrorism."
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu convened an emergency security meeting after the bombing. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed that Turkey will defend itself from future attacks and is determined to fight terrorism.
Ankara has been hit by several bombings in recent months, including a car bomb attack in February that killed at least 29 people. The government blamed that attack on a Syrian man with links to Kurdish militia groups.
Turkey has been battling the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has waged a 30-year guerrilla war for more Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey.
Turkey also has been targeted by Islamic State, which was blamed for last October's suicide bombing at a peace rally in Ankara that killed more than 100 people - the bloodiest single terrorist attack since Turkey became a modern state in 1923.
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