14 Arrested over Ankara Attack

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14 persons referred to the Criminal Court of Peace on duty demanding arrest within the investigation run into the bomb attack against military shuttles in Kızılay Merasim street of  Ankara on February 17, have been arrested.

Following the bomb attack, simultaneous operations had been run in 10 provinces and 21 suspects had been taken into custody.

After completing the procedures in the police department, the suspects have been referred to Ankara Court in the morning hours on February 21, Sunday.

14 of the suspects interrogated by public prosecutors in the  Crimes Against Constitutional Order Interrogation Unit have been referred to the Criminal Court of Peace on duty demanding arrest, the other seven have been released.

5th Criminal Court of Peace on duty has decided on the arrest of the 14 suspects.

It has been announced that the suspects have been arrested on charges of “helping the armed terrorist organization”, “forgery of official documents”, “fraud by abusing state institutions and organizations as mediators”.

Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) has claimed responsibility

TAK in its statement said that it was Abdulbaki Sönmez (27), codenamed Zınar Raperin, born in Van who executed the attack. “This act has been launched in revenge of our vulnerable, wounded civilians slaughtered brutally in the basement in Cizre”, continued the statement.

About TAK

Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Spokesperson “Roj Kandil”, had made the following explanation to CNN International in November 2010 as to the act launched on October 31, 2010 and claimed by TAK:

TAK has claimed responsibility fort he attack in Taksim. According to you, who are they?

It is true that some of TAK members were among us. However, they were criticizing our policies. They saw us very passive and soft. They were saying they favor in escalating armed struggle. Then they separated from us. Nevertheless, they also accept [Abdullah] Öcalan as their leader. Serious problems arose within us after Öcalan has been caught. Some friends were saying, “Leadership has called truce, but state didn’t get it and developed conspiracies against him”. Afterwards, some elements voicing criticism have become a unit. This unit has rapidly went to extremes and established its own organization by decoupling from us.

Are the allegations that TAK is PKK’s city wing true?

Such evaluations are being made because some elements in TAK have separated from us. There is no relation between us. As far as I understand, they are subordinated to Öcalan and loyal to him”.

TAK’s attacks

TAK lastly had claimed responsibility for the explosions at apron in İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport on December 23, 2015. TAK had announced it as the end of their inaction they started in 2011.

TAK had claimed responsibility for the following attacks it launched earlier:

Bombed attacks on van carrying tourists in Kuşadası province of Aydın, which left five tourists and one police officer dead, and 34 people wounded on July 17, 2005.

The explosion in Anafartalar bazaar in Ulus district of Ankara which killed seven people, and wounded 102 on May 23, 2007.

Explosion in Bakırköy district of İstanbul which wounded 31 people on June 10, 2007.

Bombed attack which left 15 police officers wounded in Küçükçekmece district of İstanbul on June 8, 2007.

Explosion that occurred during passage of shuttle carrying military staff near military housing in Halkalı district of İstanbul on June 22, 2010.

Attack on Konyaaltı beach in Antalya on August 26, 2011 and the attack on Kemer public beach leaving 6 wounded on August 28.

Bombed attack which left three people dead, 34 others wounded in Kızılay district of Ankara on September 20, 2011.

What had happened?

A massive explosion happened in the area of military housing in Turkey’s capital, Ankara at around 6:30 p.m.

Government Spokesperson Numan Kurtulmuş has announced casualties as 28 dead, 61 wounded.

On February 18, Prime Minister Davutoğlu had noted, “It came out that members of the separatist terrorist organization and a YPG (People’s Protection Units) member leaked out of Syria have carried out the attack”.

CLICK - DAVUTOĞLU: ATTACK IN ANKARA CARRIED OUT BY YPG MEMBER

On the same day, KCK (Group of Communities in Kurdistan) Executive Council Co-Chair Bayık has stated on Ankara attack; “We don’t know who has carried it out. But we know from earlier that there have been such practices of retaliation for the massacres in Kurdistan”.

CLICK - KCK EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CO-CHAIR BAYIK: COULD BE RETALIATION

PYD Co-Chair Salih Müslim on the same day had noted that they were in no way related to the attack in Ankara killing 28 persons and has denied Davutoğlu’s statement.

CLICK - PYD CO-CHAIR MÜSLİM: KURDS IN NO WAY RELATED TO ANKARA ATTACK

Erdoğan as to PYD’s statement that they are in no way related to the attack in Ankara has said, “It has come to light through information and documents obtained by all of our intelligence organizations that they are responsible for the attack”.

CLICK - ERDOĞAN ON ANKARA ATTACK: WE HAVE DOCUMENTS, INFORMATION

On February 19 Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) has claimed responsibility for the attack and has made the identification information of the suicide bomber public.

(HK/DG)

* Photograph: Murat Kaymak - Ankara/Anadolu News Agency (AA)