Explosions at the Peace Rally in Ankara: 97 killed, 246 injured
The Minister of Health, Müezzinoğlu stated that 86 people are killed and 186 people are injured
Müzezzinoğlu said, “62 people died at the scene. 24 people died at the hospital because of fatal injuries. In addition to the people who came to the hospital by themselves, 186 people are being treated now; 28 of them are in intensive care unit and 18 of them are in surgery.”
At prime ministry’s request, RTÜK (Turkey’s supreme board of radio and television) imposed a broadcast ban on the footage of the explosion moments.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu cancelled his election campaigns for three days because of the explosions in Ankara.
HDP MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder confirmed that one of the explosions occurred near HDP cortege and said: “There were three explosions; two powerful, one weak. There are tens of shattered bodies and hundreds of injured people. We try to rush them to the hospitals. The people who are able to donate blood can go to hospitals. Now, there are a suspicious vehicle and a package at the explosion area. The bomb squad arrived there and they will take care of them.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan cancelled his program in Istanbul.
The authorities and NGOs in Ankara declared that there is a need for blood and called everyone to donate blood.
HDP chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ cancelled their program and headed to Ankara.
HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş made a statement about the explosion: “This is a massacre. This is a barbaric attack. It is exactly the same with what happened in Diyarbakır and Suruç. There is a heavy loss. Tens are killed and hundreds are injured.”
CHP chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu cancelled his program in İstanbul and returned to Ankara: “It would have been a nice rally, but we couldn’t have the chance. The tolls are very bleak. It is said that there were two suicide bombers. I have said this many times before and I will say this again: This is a real shame. This country doesn’t deserve this. Everyone should condemn terrorism, regardless of their political views and religious beliefs. We condemn terrorism with all our faith and determination. These kinds of pains shouldn’t remain on the agenda of Turkey anymore. Is this the way to govern Turkey? We don’t deserve this. We want a beautiful country. We make an open call to end terrorism. We are ready to do whatever people want from us.”
CHP cancelled all of its programs.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davuotğlu met with the Minister of Internal Affairs Selami Altınok to discuss the explosions. Davutoğlu also talked to the Minister of Health to get information about the people who are killed and injured. Davutoğlu call a meeting of Vice Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan, officials from the ministries of internal affairs and health, the Secretary of Turkish Intelligence Agency (MİT) Fidan, General Director of Public Security Lekesiz and Mayor of Ankara Kılıçlar.
Demirtaş: This is exactly the same with what happened in Diyarbakır and Suruç
Before the press conference that Selahattin Demirtaş will held in İstanbul, the reports about the explosions were received. Demirtaş said, “This attack is exactly the same with what happened in Diyarbakır and Suruç. There is a heavy loss.”
The explosion occurred around 10.00
According to Anadolu Agency, people tried to rush the injured to the hospitals by ambulances and taxis after the explosions that happened in the of the train station around 10.00.
It is reported that some people attacked ambulances and the police and some people fired the gun into the air. The police and other officials continue to carry their operations on the area.
The witnesses claim that there were two explosions and there might be suicide bombers.
According to the Ministry of Health, from the first moment, many ambulances drived to the explosion area.
It was a rally
Many unions and occupational organizations planned to hold rally in Ankara called “Labor, peace and democracy.”
People were supposed to gather in Ankara Train Station at 10.00 and head toward Sıhhiye Square.
Turkish Medical Association (TTB): We call everyone to donate blood
Beyazıt İlhan, the head of TTB, said: “Many people were killed. The bodies are shattered. It is like a scene from a massacre. We try to identify them and estimate the number of the killed. I talked to the minister of health and said that we need a lot of doctors. We call everyone to donate blood.”
General Secretary of DİSK: The explosion occurred among thousands of people
Going live on CNN Türk, General Secretary of DİSK (Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions of Turkey) Arzu Çerkezoğlu said: “Before the marching starts, during the gathering, thousands of people took to the streets for democracy. There was an enthusiastic crowd and two powerful explosions occurred. There are a lot of injured people and it is said that some people are killed. I don’t have accurate information now.”
