Turkey terrorist attack: Suicide bomber detonates explosive device in Ankara

A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in the heart of the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Sunday (October 1), hours before parliament was scheduled to reopen after a summer recess. A second assailant was killed in a shootout with police. The Turkish government has termed the explosion a "terrorist attack".

Two police officers were slightly injured during the attack near the Ministry of Interior Affairs, Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. The minister said "two terrorists" came in a light commercial vehicle.

"At around 09.30, 2 terrorists who came with a light commercial vehicle in front of the entrance gate of the General Directorate of Security of our Ministry of Internal Affairs, carried out a bomb attack. One of the terrorists blew himself up and the other terrorist was neutralised. During the fire, 2 of our police officers were slightly injured. I wish a speedy recovery to our heroes," he posted on X.

There was no immediate information on the assailants. Kurdish and far-left militant groups as well as the Islamic State group have carried out deadly attacks throughout the country in the past.

Yerlikaya said the assailants arrived at the scene inside a light commercial vehicle.

Television footage showed bomb squads working near a parked vehicle in the area which is located near the Turkish Grand National Assembly and other government buildings. Police cordoned off access to the city centre.

The two police officers were being treated in a hospital and were not in serious condition, media reports said.

(With agency inputs)