Turkey says Ankara bomber linked to Syrian Kurdish rebels

Image
AFP Ankara
Last Updated : Mar 15 2016 | 10:22 PM IST
A female suicide car bomber who killed at least 35 people in Ankara had links to Syrian Kurdish rebels, Turkey's interior ministry said in a statement today.
The ministry, which identified the bomber as Seher Cagla Demir, born in 1992, said she had been affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) since 2013 and then "crossed into Syria and received terror training in the YPG terrorist organisation".
The People's Protection Units or YPG is a Syrian Kurdish militia that Ankara regards as a terror outfit with links to the PKK.
Nobody has claimed the attack yet that struck the heart of the capital but the Turkish government said "almost certain" evidence pointed to Kurdish rebels.
The interior ministry said a thorough investigation was under way and offered condolences to relatives of civilians who lost their lives in the attack carried out by the "separatist terrorist organisation."
Yesterday's bombing is the second major blast in Ankara in less than a month.
In February, a car bombing targeted military personnel in a nearby area of Ankara, killing 29 people. That was claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), which has ties to the PKK, in revenge for Turkish military operations in the southeast.
The government described that attack as a joint operation of the PKK in cooperation with the YPG.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Mar 15 2016 | 10:22 PM IST

Next Story