'They lured us into a trap that day': Ankara Massacre commemorated across Türkiye

A limited number of people were allowed to gather in front of the Railway Station. (Photo: Evrensel)

The seventh anniversary of the Ankara Massacre, the deadliest bomb attack in Türkiye's modern history, was commemorated across the country yesterday (October 10). During a peace rally in 2015 in Ankara, 104 people lost their lives when two suicide bombs went off in front of the capital's train station.

During the commemoration in Ankara, multiple organizations and representatives of October 10 associations marched with banners of the ones who lost their lives during the massacre.

The police blocked the square in front of the station, saying that only family members of the deceased would be allowed to enter the area and used force to keep people, including journalists, away from the site. At least 20 protesters were detained.

CLICK - Commemoration of Ankara Massacre: Police attacks, barricades, detentions for years

In reaction to the police actions, the 10 October Peace and Solidarity Association President Mehtap Sakinci Coşgun said, "While as heart-wounded people we are trying to hold a commemoration, we are not actually able to commemorate October 10 in a place where our friends get brutally beaten."

Zöhre Tedik, the mother of Korkmaz Tedik, who died in the massacre, said, "I was here too. My son and daughter were also here. Workers and laborers from all over Turkey were also there. You took my son and hundreds of people from us. This system, this order will be destroyed."

"There were no security officers"

In İstanbul, people came together in front of the Eminönü Pier in the Asian-side Kadıköy district, with slogans such as "Martyrs of the revolution are immortal" and "Murderer ISIS, collaborator AKP," "Shoulder to shoulder against fascism."

Faik Deli, the father of Dicle Deli, who was killed in the massacre, spoke on behalf of the October 10 Peace and Solidarity Association. "They had lured us into a trap that day," he said.

"We didn't see any security officers that day, apart from the two traffic police officers in Tandoğan. It was the state's duty to ensure the area's security, but sadly, the area was left unsecured. When our friends lost their lives, that's when the security forces stepped in. They turned towards us and shouted, 'Sweep up.' They also attacked our injured friends with chemical gasses.

"Many of our friends suffocated due to the use of chemical gas. Ambulances arrived half an hour after the attack. This is why they are responsible for this massacre, just like ISIS killers.

"On the 6th of this month, the 17th hearing of the October 10 Trial was held. Despite all our calls and efforts, unfortunately, we could not bring any of the perpetrators and collaborators of this massacre to justice. Not a single police officer helped bring justice."

CLICK - Lawyers scrutinize authorities' neglect in Ankara Massacre trial

"It happened before the eyes of the authorities"

Members of the Amed Labor and Democracy Platform gathered in the Rojava Park in the predominantly Kurdish-populated southeastern province of Diyarbakır, the Sur Agency reported.

Reading out a statement on behalf of the group, Şiyar Güldiken, head of the Health Workers' Union (SES) Diyarbakır Branch, noted that the killed people were from 42 different provinces of the country.

"The October 10 Ankara Railway Station Massacre happened in the middle of the capital of Türkiye, before the eyes of the entire security bureaucracy. The truths that have been revealed in this stage show that this massacre was facilitated.

"It has been publicized that the villains who committed the massacre were being followed by the intelligence services, there were reports about suicide bombers, and those responsible for the massacre contacted intelligence officers before and after the massacre.

"The ISIS murderers who perpetrated the massacre crossed thousands of kilometers with bomb materials freely, without being subject to any control."

Vigils were also held in Mardin, Şırnak, Hakkari, Van and other provinces in the country's mostly Kurdish-populated eastern and southeastern regions.

"Our longing grows stronger every day"

Those who lost their lives in the massacre were also commemorated in the Black Sea province of Giresun. Ersin Nurettin Önder, read out a statement on behalf of the Tüm Bel Sen union.

"We commemorate with respect and longing all our friends we lost in the biggest mass murder in the history of Turkey. Our longing for our friends grows stronger every day."

'' ... in every hearing we have attended for 6 years, we have expressed that public officials who were negligent in the massacre and politicians who had responsibilities should also be tried.

"Unfortunately, we have witnessed that the court board has changed its process, those who participate and are victims are considered as suspects, and that those who want 'justice' need to be removed from the courtrooms." (WM/VK)