TURKEY-EXPLOSION/EYEWITNESS Eyewitness recounts twin Ankara blasts

Record ID: 135147

  • Title: TURKEY-EXPLOSION/EYEWITNESS Eyewitness recounts twin Ankara blasts
  • Date: 10th October 2015
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (OCTOBER 10, 2015) (REUTERS) POLICE OFFICERS STANDING OUTSIDE TRAIN STATION BROKEN WINDOWS POLICE OFFICERS STANDING OUTSIDE TRAIN STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) UNNAMED EYEWITNESS SAYING: "There was a demonstration. I was walking next to a stage rally truck. Right here, behind two banners, an explosion went off. We lay on the ground. The second bomb went off
  • Embargoed: 25th October 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAA2QJQLCRU5QCSGCOPG1BXKWXG
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
    At least 30 people were killed when twin explosions hit a rally of hundreds of pro-Kurdish and leftist activists outside Ankara's main train station on Saturday (October 10) in what the government described as a terrorist attack, weeks ahead of an election.
    One unidentified man who was among the crowd of marchers when the blasts occurred, said he lay on the ground after a first explosion hit the area.
    The second explosion followed shortly after.
    "There was a demonstration. I was walking next to a stage rally truck. Right here, behind two banners, an explosion went off. We laid on the ground. The second bomb went off there. There were two bombs but the one that went off here was a very strong one," the man said.
    Bodies covered by flags and banners, including those of the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), remained on the ground outside the station, with bloodstains and body parts scattered on the road.
    Forensic teams searched the area while police officers lined up on guard.
    The interior ministry said 30 people were killed and 126 wounded.
    Authorities were investigating claims Saturday's attacks were carried out by suicide bombers, two government officials told Reuters. There were no claims of responsibility for the attack.
    Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu cancelled his next three days of election campaigning and was due to hold an emergency meeting with the heads of the police and intelligence agencies and other senior officials.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register