A blast was heard in the heart of the Turkish capital on Sunday, Turkish media reported, saying it was in the area that houses both the Parliament and the Interior Ministry.
Attackers used a vehicle to carry out the bomb attack at the entrance gate of the Interior Ministry’s General Directorate of Security, minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
Saat 09.30 sıralarında İçişleri Bakanlığımız Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü giriş kapısı önüne hafif ticari araçla gelen 2 terörist bombalı saldırı eyleminde bulunmuştur.
Teröristlerden biri kendini patlatmış, diğer terörist etkisiz hale getirilmiştir.
Açılan ateş sırasında 2 Emniyet…
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) October 1, 2023
“One of the terrorists blew himself up and the other terrorist was neutralized,” Yerlikaya said. He added that two police officers were “slightly injured” in the fire caused by the blast.
Turkish media also reported that gunshots were heard in the same area after the blast.
NEW: Ankara attack footage from this morning. #Turkey pic.twitter.com/CshYPAB64H
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) October 1, 2023
Bomb squads were seen working near a parked vehicle in the area on television, with Turkish media saying they were inspecting it.
Media also reported extensive security measures, including the closure of traffic and dispatching of special police units, firefighters, and medical teams.
Police warned citizens that they would be carrying out controlled explosions of suspicious packages.
Ankara’s chief public prosecutor launched an investigation into the attack, Turkish media reported. Officials also limited access to the scene and imposed a news blackout on the attack.
This article was originally published on DW.