Bombing at Ankara Peace Rally: 95 dead, 246 wounded

Explosion has taken place at Peace Rally to be held in Ankara upon call of a large number of unions and trade bodies.

According to conveyance of eyewitnesses, two explosions happened at Railroad Terminal Intersection as corteges were gathering at aroun 10:00 a.m. in Ankara. It was told that the explosion occurred near the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) cortege.

News agencies note that there are many dead and wounded at the scene of incident. Confederation of Progressive Trade Union of Turkey (DİSK) General Secretary Arzu Çerkezoğlu in his statement upon the incident said "Two huge explosions happened as the corteges were gathering. There was a splendid enthusiasm here, but we see that those who cannot stand it try to hinder it. It was said that it was a sound bomb we have wounded people."

Union of Bars of Turkey President Metin Feyzioğlu has confirmed that one person died according to initial findings. Afterwards Dogan News Agence (DHA) said death toll is over 20.

Meanwhile, bomb squad is on its way to dispose of a suspicious package found in the scene of incident.

Initial statements

It is announced that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu was informed in by Health Minister and Interior Minister at 11:20 a.m. and Yalçın Akdoğan will get together with Health Minister, Interior Minister, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary at Prime Ministry residence at 12:00 a.m. and then carry on with his program in Kayseri.

Turkish Medical Association President Beyazıt İlhan said they are in effort to determine number of casualties and meet the need for blood. He added that he talked with the Health Minister as to the need for ambulance.

HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş said in his initial statement, "We have faced with a huge massacre. A brutal, barbarous attack took place that is very similar and a follow-up of the ones happened in Diyarbakır and Suruç, it is a very heavy loss."

Demirtaş interpreting the attack as massacre criticized the police firing gas with trenchant words. "They are almost like trying to increase casualties. Mobile units arrive before ambulances and delaying medical intervention. This interim prime minister will now appear and insult us looking right into our eyes by saying we should keep our common sense. What kind of a state you have turned into, your police use gas on people as they carry wounded.

Demirtaş saying that there is an avert power behind the attack as in Suruç and Diyarbakır bombings stated that they are trying to cow people into submission.

"We will bury our deceased, we tens of funerals, we will not conduct any election campaign before burying them. We are not a party formed for election, we are established for freedom, democracy and peace for people."

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu made his initial statement in Kadıköy where he was present for events. Kılıçdaroğlu sayin "Since when asking to live together has become a crime?" noted that they have cancelled all their events countrywide and to head for Ankara:

"We need to underline a fact; we can live peacefully in this country. Why should our youngsters be victimized to terror? We want a country where we can live in peace.

I want to make a call for especially the administrative posts: Do you want to end terror? Then end it. We are ready to do anything. All political parties should agree on statements leaving their 'but's out."

Security measures have been taken

Following the explosion news HDP provincial building is evacuated and search was made in the building. In the provincial building in which Demirtaş was expected to issue a press statement, journalists and staff were cleared out and a search was made by the party members. Demirtaş has come to the building after the search was completed.

Police used gas

At the time the rally attendants were helping the wounded police fired gas on the crowd. The attack which was launched as the doctors in TTB cortege were treating the injured has caused anger.

Prime Ministry: 95 people killed, 246 wounded

Prime Minstry Coordination Center said according to the initial findings, the bombing has left 95 people dead, 246 wounded including 48 in intensive care..

Names of 52 of the deceased whose identity procedures and/or autopsy procedures completed have been announced.

Abdülkadir Uyan, Metin Kürklü, Gökhan Akman, Orhan Işıktaş, Yılmaz Elmascan, Gökmen Dalmaç, Elif Kanlıoğlu, Hakan Dursun Akalın, Ersin Adsız, Ayşe Deniz, Fatma Esen, Gülbahar Aydeniz, Eren Akın, Canberk Bakış, Nizamettin Bağcı, Kasım Otur, Başak Sidar Çevik, Resul Yanar, Mehmet Ali Kılıç, Tekin Arslan, Sezen Vurmaz, Dilaver Kaharman, Umut Tan, Dilan Sarıkaya, Ali Kitapçı, İsmail Kızılçay, Muhammet Demir, Korkmaz Tetik, Onur Tan, Osman Erbasan, Emine Ercan, Vedat Erkan, Seyhan Yaylagül, Vahdettin Özgan, Selim Örs, Ali Deniz Uzatmaz, Firdevs Tat Dalmaç, Vedat Erkan, Günay Doğan, Berna Koç, Meryem Bulut, Binali Korkmaz, Feyyaz Deniz, Mehmet Zakir Karabulut, Dicle Deli, Leyla Çiçek, Ebru Mavi, Ziya Saygın, Metin Peşman, Mesut Mak, Hacı Kıvrak, Gözde Arslan.

Labor, peace, democracy rally would be held

A large number of unions and trade bodies including DİSK, Confederation of Public Laborer's Unions (KESK), Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), and Turkish Medical Association (TTB) would hold a rally named "Labor, peace, democracy."

Alongside DİSK, KESK, TMMOB, and TTB, Labourer Movement Party (EHP), Green and Left Future Party (SYKP), Labor Party (EMEP), Alewite Bektashi Federation, Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association, Hacı Bektaş Culture Foundation, Turkish Human Rights Foundation, Community Centers, and June Movement would join the rally as well. (ÇT/HK/AS/TK)

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