Preliminary report for Ankara Massacre from IHD: investigation process must be open to public oversight

IHD released a preliminary report concerning the massacre that happened during the peace rally in Ankara based on observations. In the report, it is emphasized that the bombing attack on September 10 and the police brutality that happened in Ankara on October 11 are violation of right to life and assembly. The resignation of the minister of interior, the mayor of Ankara and the police chief is demanded.

Here are the statements in the report:

The committee that organized the rally wasn’t informed by the security forces about a possible attack.

Two bombs, which were 50-60 meters away from each other, were exploded and there was 3 seconds between two explosions.

The witnesses claimed that there were two suicide bombers.

Police attacked while people were treating the injured

Few ambulances came to the area 15-20 minutes after the explosion; most of the injured people were carried by private vehicles.

While people were trying to treat the injured, the riot police attacked people with tear gas and water cannons, they prevented the medical personnel from treating the injured and attacked people who were trying to leave the area with nightsticks. They also blocked the way where ambulances were coming and caused the vehicles to be late.

There were no precautions despite the intelligence reports

Witnesses claimed that despite intelligence reports were received early in the morning, no precautions were taken.

This attack is similar to Suruç bombing; it is observed that the bomb was attached to a body and exploded 1 meter above the ground.

Ministries of interior, health and justice came to the area with police, but they had to leave immediately because of the strong reaction of the people.

The state violated the right to life

İHD also reported that though the chairpersons of İHD and KESK called Ankara Security Directorate and informed them about the commemoration and funerals of the victims and asked them not to intervene, the mayor of Ankara and the police chief haven’t performed their duties.

İHD observed that the area was cleaned on October 11 and there were no crime scene investigations and the people who gathered for the commemoration were attacked with tear gas.

In the report, the following necessities are expressed: 

1-         This bombing attack is a crime against humanity. We condemn the perpetrators and the ones who facilitated this attack by not performing their duties.

2-         We demand the resignation of the ones who haven’t performed their duties, especially the Minister of Interior, the mayor of Ankara and police chief and we demand an investigation to be conducted against those people.

3-         Effective investigations must be conducted against the mayor of Ankara and police chief, because they haven’t obeyed the decision of national mourning and they tried to intervene with the commemoration and disrespected the funerals.

4-         The broadcast ban should be lifted immediately.

5-         Public Prosecutor of Ankara should carry an effective investigation to identify the suicide bombers and reveal the organizations that these people are related and bring them to justice.

6-         A commission of investigation must be established in Grand National Assembly of Turkey to reveal all the aspects of this massacre.