TRT World - World in Focus: Terror challenge in Turkey’s capital

Terror attacks in Ankara
An ordinary Sunday evening in Turkey’s capital Ankara turned into a night of terror on March the 13th. A car bomb attack killed 35 people and injured more than 120 others. It happened in Kizilay Square near Guvenpark, next to a major transportation hub of bus stops, and the central metro station. This was the third attack on the administrative centre of Turkey within five months. Less than a month ago, a suicide attacker set off a car bomb during the evening rush hour near the Turkish general staff and parliament buildings. It killed 29 people and wounded 81 others. On October the 10th last year, double suicide bombings killed 103 people and injured more than 500 others near Ankara’s main train station. This attack was the worst terror attack in Turkey’s modern history.

Who is behind the attacks?
The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of Ankara found DAESH responsible for October’s attack. The PKK-affiliated terrorist group, the T-A-K has claimed responsibility for February’s attack. And the same perpetrator carried out the latest attack… Turkish intelligence revealed that the PKK terrorist group and its Syrian affiliate the YPG were responsible. Sunday’s attack came days after the PKK announced it had established an umbrella organisation called HBDH, uniting other 10 far-leftist outlawed groups. And four days before the attack PKK leader Cemil Bayik spoke to British newspaper The Times, threatening the Turkish state with further attacks. Bayik said his wish is to overturn Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the current government, and pledged to take revenge.

Are security measures enough?
Amid investigations into the latest attack, Turkey’s security measures against terror threats were also questioned by the public and media. Speaking about the attacks, academic Nihat Ali Ozcan said terrorists can be difficult to identify;

Why has Ankara become a target?
Ozcan also commented on the reasons why Ankara, with three terror attacks in the last five months, has become a major target…
Stressing its determination about fighting terrorism, Turkey is now continuing its operations to root out PKK terrorists in the country’s southeastern provinces.

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