| 2015 Ankara bombings | |
|---|---|
| Part ofTurkey-ISIL conflict | |
 "Democracy" memorial in front ofAnkara Central railway station | |
 Interactive map of 2015 Ankara bombings | |
| Location | 39°56′11″N32°50′38″E / 39.9364°N 32.8438°E /39.9364; 32.8438 In front ofAnkara Central railway station,Turkey |
| Date | 10 October 2015 10:04 (EEST) |
| Target | Protesters |
Attack type | Suicide bombing,mass murder |
| Deaths | 109[1][2][3] |
| Injured | 500+[4] |
| Perpetrators |  Islamic State |
| Suicide attacks in Turkey |
|---|
 Aftermath of the Suruç bombing in 2015 |
| Groups responsible |
| Attacks |
On 10 October 2015 at 10:04 local time (EEST) inAnkara, the capital city ofTurkey, two bombs weredetonated outsideAnkara Central railway station. With a death toll of 109civilians,[1][5] the attack surpassed the2013 Reyhanlı bombings as the deadliestterror attack inTurkish history.[6] Another 500 people were injured.[7][4][8] Censorship monitoring groupTurkey Blocks identified nationwide slowing ofsocial media services in the aftermath of the blasts, described by rights groupHuman Rights Watch as an "extrajudicial" measure to restrictindependent media coverage of the incident.[9][10]
The bombs appeared to target a "Labour, Peace and Democracy" rally organised by theConfederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), theUnion of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), thePeoples' Democratic Party (HDP), theTurkish Medical Association (TTB) and theConfederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK). The peace march was held to protest against thegrowing conflict between theTurkish Armed Forces and theKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The incident occurred 21 days before the scheduled1 November general election.[11][12][13][14][15]
The governingJustice and Development Party (AK Party), the main oppositionRepublican People's Party (CHP) and the oppositionNationalist Movement Party (MHP) condemned the attack and called it an attempt to cause division within Turkey.[16][17][18] CHP and MHP leaders heavily criticized the government for the security failure, whereas HDP directly blamed the AK Party government for the bombings.[19][20][21] Various political parties ended up cancelling their election campaigns while three days of national mourning were declared by thePrime MinisterAhmet Davutoğlu.[22][23][24]
No organisation has ever claimed responsibility for the attack. The Ankara Attorney General stated that they were investigating the possibility of two cases ofsuicide bombings.[25] On 19 October, one of the two suicide bombers was officially identified as the younger brother of the perpetrator of theSuruç bombing; both brothers had suspected links to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the ISIL affiliatedDokumacılar group.[26][27]
Following a suicide bombing inSuruç that killed 33 people on 20 July 2015, theTurkish Armed Forces have been fighting both the Islamic State and arenewed PKK rebellion of theKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The resumption of the conflict with the PKK resulted in an end to thepeace process between Turkey and the PKK, alongside a ceasefire in place since 2012. Withairstrikes initially targeting both the PKK and ISIL, later military operations began focusing explicitly on PKK positions in northernIraq, prompting a surge of counter PKK-related violence in the mainly Kurdish south-east of Turkey. By 7 October, the surge in violence since July had led to the deaths of 141 soldiers and 1,740 militants, leading to several pro-government commentators to claim that the PKK was close to defeat.[28] However, the large number of soldiers killed also contributed to civil unrest in other parts of the country, with attacks byTurkish nationalists taking place against thePeoples' Democratic Party (HDP) headquarters. Many politicians and commentators alleged that the country was close tocivil war.[29][30]
The increase in violence came shortly after the governingJustice and Development Party (AK Party) lost its majority inParliament after 13 years of government alone in theJune 2015 election. When the attacks took place, the preceding AK Party government led byAhmet Davutoğlu remained in power until a new coalition government could be formed, with aninterim election government also headed by Davutoğlu taking office on 28 August 2015 afterPresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan called fora new election. Critics have accused the AK Party of trying to regain nationalist voters back from theNationalist Movement Party (MHP) by purposely ending thesolution process and also trying to reduce turnout in the HDP electoral strongholds in the south-east by creating unrest there. Concern had been raised about whether an election could be securely conducted amid the violence in the region.
The explosions occurred shortly before a 'Labour, Peace and Democracy' rally supported by theConfederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), theUnion of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), theTurkish Medical Association (TTB) and theConfederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) was due to take place.[31] The rally was scheduled inSıhhiye Square, the railways overpass bridge was the gathering area. It was reported that many attendants that were present in preparation for the rally were supporters of thePeoples' Democratic Party (HDP), with the rally area containing numerous HDP,Labour Party (EMEP), andSocialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) flags.[32]
On 10 October 2015, the first bombexploded at around 10:04 local time (EEST), while rally participants were repeatedly saying "Bu meydan kanlı meydan".[33] The second bomb exploded a few seconds later. It was also observed that the bombings were in close proximity of theNational Intelligence Organisation (MİT) headquarters.[34] Shortly after the bombing, security forces cleared the area in case of a third and fourth bomb.[35]
On the day of the blasts, the initial death toll was reported as 86, along with 186 wounded.[31][36][37] Next day, the total number of deaths was announced as 97.[38][39][40] According to the prime minister's statement on 14 October, 99 people were killed in total.[41] The number increased in the following days, as people in the hospitals succumbed to their wounds, to 100[42] and to 102.[43]
TheTurkish Medical Association (TTB) made independent claims, reporting that 97 died and over 400 people had been injured,[44] which they later updated to 105,[45] and 106.[46] International media speak of 109 deaths and 508 injured.[7]
The pro-KurdishHDP party claimed the first day that the number of deaths was 128,[47] but after a few days retracted the statement and apologised for the misleading claim.[48][49]
TheRadio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) announced a temporaryban on all press coverage of the bombings following a request by thePrime Ministry.[50] Monitoring group Turkey Blocks identified intentional slowing, orthrottling, of theTwitter andFacebook social networks beginning some hours after the attack.[10][51][52] An official claimed at the time that internet problems were "due to heavy use," although the practice of internet throttling for "peace and order" became commonplace in the following months and was ultimately recognized by the government and brought into law.[9][53][54]
Witnesses at the scene told the media that the police began usingtear gas shortly after the bombs went off, while stopping ambulances from getting through. Angry people tried to attack police cars after the blast, with the HDP claiming that the police attacked people carrying the injured to safety.[55]
Shortly after the bombings, the Minister of HealthMehmet Müezzinoğlu, the Minister of the InteriorSelami Altınok, and the Minister of JusticeKenan İpek visited the scene to carry out investigations. However, they were met by protestors who chanted anti-AKP slogans and were forced to leave the scene less than one minute after arriving.[56] The Ankara Attorney General announced that they were investigating the possibility of two suicide bombers, while theTurkish State Railways (TCDD) stated that there would be delays to train services passing through theAnkara Central railway station.[57]
Prime MinisterAhmet Davutoğlu cancelled all of his prior engagements and stated that he would halt his election campaign for three days. He met with PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan, who also cancelled his engagements inIstanbul following the incident. The Prime Minister later held a security summit, which was attended by Deputy Prime MinistersYalçın Akdoğan,Numan Kurtulmuş, andTuğrul Türkeş, along withNational Intelligence Organisation (MİT) undersecretaryHakan Fidan, Interior MinisterSelami Altınok, Justice MinisterKenan İpek, the Governor of AnkaraMehmet Kılıçlar, the General Director of SecurityCelalettin Lekesiz, and several other senior civil servants working for the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Health.[58]
The Ankara Attorney General stated that they were investigating the possibility of twin suicide bombings.[59] It was observed that an anonymousTwitter account had claimed that an explosion could take place in Ankara just one day before the attack actually happened.[60]
The lack of any immediate statement from any known non-state perpetrator taking responsibility for the attack resulted in speculation over the possible perpetrators.Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leaderDevlet Bahçeli stated that the attacks bore a resemblance to theexplosion inSuruç in July, raising debate on whether the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) could have been responsible.[61] It was reported that the type of bomb used bore strong resemblance to the materials used in the Suruç bombing, signalling a potential connection between the two incidents.[62]
ThePeoples' Democratic Party (HDP) openly blamed the Turkish state and the government for conducting the attack, accusing the government of collaborating with non-state actors and taking insufficient action to tackle their presence.[63] The HDP has claimed that the governingJustice and Development Party (AKP) was guilty of being "murderers with blood on their hands" and also of being the number one threat to Turkey's peace and security. The HDP's accusation was met with strong criticism by the AK Party government.[citation needed]
Veysel Eroğlu, theMinister of Forest and Water Management, made a heavily criticised statement inAfyonkarahisar implying that the HDP had purposely organised the attack against their own supporters to raise public sympathy for their party.[64] Although Eroğlu did not name the HDP or the PKK specifically, he referred to theDiyarbakır HDP rally bombing in June as being an attempt to raise support for the HDP "just so that they can pass the 10%election threshold".[65][66][67]
Initially the government suggested the perpetrators could be any of the following anti-government groups:[68] Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State/Daesh (IS), Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK),Revolutionary People's Liberation Party–Front (DHKP-C),Marxist–Leninist Communist Party (MLKP)
A day after the bombing, Davutoğlu suggested that early investigations pointed to the involvement of IS.[69] However, opposition political parties[which?] did not accept this attribution.[70]
Yunus Emre Alagöz, an ethnic Kurd from Adıyaman and the younger brother of Abdurrahman Alagöz, the perpetrator of theSuruç bombing, was suspected by the government to be one of the suicide bombers.[27] On 14 October media reports alleged that Yunus, and a second suspect, Ömer Deniz Dündar, both of whom are believed[who?] to have links toISIL, were identified usingDNA from the scene of the blast.[71][72] On 19 October, one of the two suicide bombers was officially identified as Yunus Emre Alagöz.[26]
In August 2018, a court sentenced nine defendants to life in prison for the bombing. 36 suspected members of ISIL were charged during the trial.[73]
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the bombings and vowed that the Turkish people will stand in "unity and solidarity" following the "heinous attack". He also stated that Turkey would not give in to efforts to sow division in society.[74][75] He encouraged everyone to take responsibility and act with good intentions, claiming that the government was working to uncover the full details of the incident as quickly as possible.[76]
Prime MinisterAhmet Davutoğlu, the leader of theJustice and Development Party (AK Party), issued a statement condemning the attack and claiming that it was an attack against democracy and against all segments of society. He said Turkey was an example of a country that had kept united despite several threats against national unity, announcing plans to meet with opposition party leaders in regards to the attack. Declaring three days of national mourning, Davutoğlu vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice regardless of who they were.[77]
Main opposition leaderKemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of theRepublican People's Party (CHP), claimed that they were ready to fulfill any task to end such attacks in Turkey[78] and agreed to meet with Davutoğlu to discuss the bombing.[79] He stated that all political parties had a duty to stand together against such attacks and called on the perpetrators to identify themselves, further claiming that violence was never an answer to a difference in viewpoints.[78]
Opposition leaderDevlet Bahçeli, the leader of theNationalist Movement Party (MHP), cancelled a planned electoral rally inİzmir following the attack and issued a statement in which he claimed that Turkey was paying the price for the AK Party's close relations with violent groups, refusing to meet with Davutoğlu.[79] Condemning the bombings as an attack on the country's unity, he also stated that the fact that such perpetrators could evade security and intelligence organisations to conduct a bombing in the country's capital city was another serious issue of concern.[80]
Opposition leaderSelahattin Demirtaş, the co-leader of thePeoples' Democratic Party (HDP), drew parallels with the bombings inSuruç andDiyarbakır earlier in the year, claiming that his party was specifically targeted. Accusing the state of conducting a "massacre" in the centre of the capitalAnkara, he further claimed that they were facing a "mad, undignified attitude that has lost its mind". He accused the AK Party government and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of forcing violence onto the people of Turkey, denouncing them as "murderers with blood on their hands". Referring to Erdoğan as a "gang leader", he claimed that Erdoğan had been able to conduct rallies under complete security but members of the public wishing to hold a rally for peace had been "massacred". He further claimed that the AK Party was the biggest threat to the country's peace and security, drawing criticism from AK Party leader and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.[81]
Shortly after the bombing,PKK/KCK declared a ceasefire in order to ensure that a peaceful election would be held on 1 November,[82] which was reportedly already being planned before the bombing took place.[83][84]
Before closing his morning television chat show on 13 October,TRT anchor Selver Gözüaçık read atweet by one of his viewers that read it was not right to "lump all the victims together [because] some may be innocent." He agreed with the sentiment, saying that there may have been "police officers, cleaning staff, passersby or people trying to get to work" who were also killed in the bombings.[85]
FormerNobel Prize in Literature laureateOrhan Pamuk criticized Erdoğan for what he said was a climate of insecurity as a result of the latter's persistence on trying to achieve a parliamentary majority that has brought the country to the brink ofsectarian conflict.[citation needed]
During aone minute silence for the victims at theUEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matchbetween Turkey andIceland, the crowd instead booed, whistled, shouted Turkish ultranationalist slogans and chantedAllahu akbar.[86][87]
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European Union:President of the European CouncilDonald Tusk condemned the bombings noting that it "cynically exploits a sensitive moment for Turkey."[88]High Representative for Foreign AffairsFederica Mogherini andEuropean Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood PolicyJohannes Hahn issued a joint statement in which they urged Turkish society and all the political forces to unite against such incidents.[89][90]
Armenia:PresidentSerzh Sargsyan expressed his condolences and condemned the bombings.[91]
Australia:Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull expressed his condolences in a telephone call to his counterpart.Leader of the OppositionBill Shorten conveyed his condolences to the Turkish Ambassador-designate.[who?][92][better source needed]
Azerbaijan:PresidentIlham Aliyev telephoned his counterpart, Erdogan, expressing his condolences to the family members and relatives of the victims and the Turkish people.[93]
China: Foreign Ministry spokespersonHua Chunying "strongly condemned the bombings" and reaffirmed China's stance on the issue of terrorism, stating on behalf of the Chinese people that "we are against terrorist attacks in any form".[94]
Colombia:PresidentJuan Manuel Santos condemned the acts.[95] TheMinistry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Government, issued a statement condemning the attacks expressing that "Colombia condemns terrorist violence, deeply laments the occurrence of this acts against the individuals that manifest for peace".[96]
Cyprus:PresidentNicos Anastasiades expressed his shock and offered condolences over the attack. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement that condemned the attack and expressed concern over the spread of such incidents in the region and the need for a determination to combat such threats.[97]
Northern Cyprus:PresidentMustafa Akıncı condemned the bombings, calling them a "brutal attack at a time when Turkey needed internal peace the most." Three days of national mourning were declared byPrime MinisterÖmer Kalyoncu.[98]
Czech Republic:Prime MinisterBohuslav Sobotka condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to theTurkish government and people affected. He noted that the perpetrators must be brought to justice.[99] Foreign MinisterLubomír Zaorálek also expressed condolences and said that these attacks must not disturb theupcoming election and put the democratic base of Turkey into jeopardy.[100][101][102]
Egypt: TheForeign Ministry issued a statement reading that it condemned the bombings and called for the international community to stand against such incidents.[103]
Finland:PresidentSauli Niinistö with spouse laid flowers to remember the victims at the attack site four days afterwards.[104]
France:PresidentFrançois Hollande condemned the attack and expressed condolences.[105]
Germany: Minister of Foreign AffairsFrank-Walter Steinmeier condemned the "brutal terror attack on peaceful demonstrators...[as an] attack on the democratic process in Turkey."[106]
Greece:Prime MinisterAlexis Tsipras condemned the attack and called on Erdoğan to explain the numerous attacks on democratic rallies held in Turkey.
Guatemala:PresidentAlejandro Maldonado condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims.[108]
Hungary:Prime MinisterViktor Orbán expressed his condolences in a letter to his counterpart that read "this terrible tragedy can not break our commitment to the [sic] international anti-terrorist cooperation."[109]
India:Prime MinisterNarendra Modi wrote onTwitter of his sadness "by the loss of lives due to the bomb explosion" and also sent his condolences "to [the] families of [the] deceased & prayers with [the] injured."[110]
Iran: First Vice PresidentEshaq Jahangiri said both countries should closely cooperate and that there was a necessity to counter such perpetrators. "Given the critical and sensitive situation in the region and efforts by foreign powers to take advantage of the conditions, a rise in the exchange of views as well as extensive consultations between the two countries are of special significance." He further noted that Iran was interested in the highest possible level of cooperation with Turkey in different fields. In regards to the incident more specifically he expressed regret over the bombings and said that Iran was ready to render medical assistance to the victims.[citation needed]
Israel:PresidentReuven Rivlin sent a letter to his counterpart expressing condolences in which he wrote that he was "saddened to learn of the vicious attacks" and expressed "hopes for a better and more secure future for all the peoples of our region."[112]
Italy:PresidentSergio Mattarella condemned the attack and expressed the solidarity of the Italian people with the Turkish people.
Latvia: Minister of Foreign AffairsEdgars Rinkēvičs condemned the attacks and expressed his condolences to families of victims on Twitter.[114]
Lithuania: BothPresidentDalia Grybauskaitė andPrime MinisterAlgirdas Butkevičius expressed condolences, noting that the "entire international community unanimously condemn these terror attacks carried out against [the] Turkish people."[115]
Malaysia:Prime MinisterNajib Razak said he was saddened by the loss of lives and strongly condemned the attacks.[116]
Nepal: A press release fromNepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that theNepalese government "strongly condemns the suicide bombings in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, on October 10, 2015 that caused the loss of so many precious lives and the huge damage of property".[117]
Pakistan: TheForeign Ministry issued a statement condemning the bombing and sent their condolences to the people and government of Turkey.[118]
Romania:PresidentKlaus Iohannis condemned the attack and sent condolences to the Turkish people. He also reiterated Romania's "full commitment to fighting terrorism and extremism of any kind."[119]
Russia:PresidentVladimir Putin said: "It is necessary to unite efforts in the fight against this evil. What happened in Turkey… it certainly is an impudent terrorist attack, a terrorist crime with scores of victims. And of course it is an attempt to destabilize the situation in Turkey, a neighboring and friendly country for us."[citation needed]
Ukraine: TheForeign MinisterPavlo Klimkin condemned the attack and wished for a speedy recovery to the wounded.[122]
United Kingdom:Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsPhilip Hammond condemned the "barbaric" attack and offered condolences to the family of those killed. He also stated that theBritish government was with theTurkish people.[123]
United States:PresidentBarack Obama expressed his condolences to his counterpart Erdogan in a telephone call and "affirmed that the American people stand in solidarity with the people of Turkey in the fight against terrorism and shared security challenges in the region."[125]
Vietnam: The Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh "strongly condemns the terrorist attack" and expressed its condolences to the Turkish government and people and families of the victims.[128]Austria,Belgium,Canada,Denmark,France,Germany,Iran,Ireland,Italy, theNetherlands,New Zealand,Poland,Switzerland, theUnited Kingdom and theUnited States issuedtravel advisories recommending that all non-essential travel to Turkey should be avoided.[131]
Following the attack, three days ofnational mourning were declared by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.[22]
With the bombing occurring during the election campaigns for theNovember 2015 general election, various parties abandoned their scheduled rallies. The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) cancelled their planned election programme for three days after the attack.[132][133] The Republican People's Party (CHP) also cancelled their daily programme, with party leaderKemal Kılıçdaroğlu having been due to spend the day campaigning inIstanbul.[134] The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) announced that their scheduled rally inİzmir would take place at a later date.[135] The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), having claimed that they were the targets of the attack, abandoned a campaign strategy meeting due in their Istanbulheadquarters.[136] President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also cancelled his prior engagements in Istanbul,[137] including a trip toTurkmenistan.[138]
After ascreen grab of Justice MinisterKenan İpek showing him smiling went viral, CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said that they shouldresign in a meeting with Davutoğlu. He said: "The sight of the justice minister [smiling at the reporter's question] is startling. The [sic] society is going through a severe trauma and meanwhile the justice minister is smiling. The justice minister cannot remain in his office." He added that Davutoğlu would make a decision upon receipt of a report on Ipek’s conduct. It was also criticised on social media. Further, Deputy ChairmanHaluk Koç also called for the immediate resignation of Interior MinisterSelami Altınok saying that he was unable to carry out his responsibilities.[citation needed]
TheConfederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK),Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), theTurkish Medical Association (TTB) and theConfederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK), which had all been organisers of the peace rally, declared that two days of industrial action would be held on 12 and 13 October as a show of respect to the dead, as well as a protest against the "fascist massacre." The unions also stated that they would not give up on their efforts to end the conflict.[139]
Shortly after the bombings, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) declared a ceasefire to allow a peaceful election to take place on 1 November. The ceasefire announcement, which was made through the executive of theGroup of Communities in Kurdistan (KCK), declared that the PKK would not conduct any attacks unless provoked or in self-defence.[140] It is unclear if the ceasefire announcement, which was made approximately an hour after the Ankara bombings, was related to the incident.
In the afternoon following the attack, thousands of union members began protesting atTaksim Square inIstanbul against the bombing, with many participants chanting anti-government slogans and calling on both the governing AK Party and for Erdoğan to resign.[141] Similar protests occurred inİzmir, with tensions between protestors and riot police briefly rising inAlsancak before deescalating shortly after. HDPMembers of Parliament of theGrand National Assembly of Turkey led a protest inBatman, before being met by riot police using tear gas andwater cannon. A group of 15 masked individuals inKızılay, Ankara, began attacking police officers with fireworks before being met by water cannon andpepper spray. Over 2,000 protestors led demonstrations inDiyarbakır and 300 protestors participated in protests inŞanlıurfa, having been accompanied by HDP andDemocratic Regions Party (DBP) politicians. Similar protests took place inVan,Tunceli andKars, with participating politicians from the HDP and CHP as well as union members from KESK, TMMOB, TTB and DISK.[142]
The younger Alagoz brother, of Kurdish origin born in Adiyaman, is believed to have acted on behalf of Isil. The 20-year-old is believed to have gone to Syria last year with his brother, Turkish media reported.
Media related to2015 Ankara bombings at Wikimedia Commons
