Terrorist attack in the middle of the administrative capital on the opening day of the National Assembly… Erdogan visits parliament and declares strong response
On the 1st, a bombing occurred in Ankara, the administrative capital of Turkiye, for the first time in about eight years since 2016. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish armed group demanding independence, claimed responsibility for this terrorist attack. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Türkiye’s anti-Kurdish policies, which have oppressed the Kurds throughout his administration, are expected to deepen. The Ministry of Defense also said, “We conducted airstrikes against terrorists and killed many of them.”
Regarding the car bombing that occurred at the entrance to the Ministry of Interior building this morning, Turkiye authorities confirmed that “one of the two suspects was a member of the PKK.” “The identity of the remaining person is also being confirmed,” he said. One of the two died by suicide and the other was killed by police. Two police officers were injured, but there were no civilian casualties.
The PKK claimed responsibility through the Kurdish media ANF news agency, saying, “A team from our ‘Immortal Brigade’ carried out a sacrificial operation.” The PKK was also accused of being behind the explosion of a bomb-laden car in downtown Ankara in March 2016, killing 37 people.
President Erdogan declared a strong response, citing the fact that a terrorist attack occurred in the center of the capital on the day when parliament was scheduled to open. He visited the National Assembly and gave his opening speech as scheduled, saying, “Terrorists who threaten the peace and safety of citizens will never be able to achieve their goals.”
The Kurds living in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran are estimated to be about 35 million people and are called ‘the world’s largest nationless people.’ Of these, 14 million people live in Turkiye, which accounts for about 16% of the population. President Erdogan severely oppressed the Kurds throughout his administration. He also banned teaching indigenous languages and history, and wearing traditional clothing.
The PKK, formed in 1978, has the strongest radical tendencies among the major Kurdish groups. Independence activities centered on armed struggle have been carried out in southeastern Turkiye and northern Syria. When Sweden, a neutral country, applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the PKK is also behind NATO member Turkiye’s blocking. The Swedish government is taking insufficient action against the PKK, which the country considers a terrorist group.
Cairo =
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.