Ankara Explosion: Terrorist Attack Near Interior Ministry Building.

By Caroline Ameh

The Turkish capital, Ankara, was struck by a devastating bomb attack in front of the interior ministry building. The Turkish government has confirmed that two terrorists were involved in the incident, which marks the first such attack in the city since 2016.

Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya revealed that the attackers approached the general security directorate building at approximately 9:30 AM local time on Sunday in a commercial vehicle. One of them detonated explosives, resulting in their own demise, while the other was neutralized by gunfire from security forces stationed nearby. Fortunately, only two police officers suffered minor injuries in the incident.

The explosion occurred less than a mile away from the parliament building, just hours before lawmakers were scheduled to return after a three-month summer break. In response, authorities closed a major thoroughfare near several state institutions, including the parliament building. Additionally, police announced plans to conduct controlled explosions for any suspicious package incidents in other parts of the city.

The Turkish criminal court of peace in Ankara has issued a ban on media access and publication of information related to the attack. This comes in the wake of a recent law passed by Turkish authorities aimed at curbing “disinformation,” with potential penalties of up to three years in prison for those found in violation.

The attack in Ankara follows a series of incidents in Turkey in recent years, often attributed to either Islamic State or Kurdish militant groups. Officials have rushed to condemn what they consider to be disinformation regarding this latest attack. Fahrettin Altun, head of Turkey’s directorate of communications, cautioned against the spread of disinformation and urged media outlets to responsibly report on the incident.

Interior Minister Yerlikaya also warned social media users against sharing images of the attack online and announced an investigation into those who did so. Despite the broadcast ban imposed by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), the media has played a crucial role in covering the incident.

“We are deeply wounded by today’s incident,” stated Yerlikaya, “let me warn people who share these images once again, please delete them, do not disrespect our pain.”

The investigation into the attack is ongoing as the nation comes to terms with this shocking act of terrorism in its capital.