Deadly Explosion in Turkey Suspected Terrorist Attack

ANKARA - An explosion hit military vehicles in the Turkish capital on Wednesday evening, claiming the lives of 28 people and injuring 61 others.

CNN reported the explosion hit three military vehicles and a private vehicle in central Ankara, near the Turkish parliament buildings. Authorities believe a bomb-laden vehicle caused the explosion.

A video aired on CNN Turk showing large flames reaching towards the night sky from the ground. Lights from numerous emergency vehicles flashed nearby. No group has claimed responsibility yet.

According to foreign media outlets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued an official statement condemning the attack.

He emphasized that Turkey is determination to fight those behind such acts, whether they be from outside Turkey’s borders or not, would only get stronger and it would not hesitate to exercise its right to self-defense.

Turkey’s main opposition CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu tweeted last night “this country does not deserve such pain.” The U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter echoed the statement in his statement condemning the attack.

"We strongly condemn this cowardly attack which appears to have targeted buses carrying Turkish military personnel. We stand with our Turkish allies in the face of this horrific act, which only strengthens our resolve to deepen our ongoing cooperation in the fight against terrorism," Carted commented.

Soner Cagaptay, a senior at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s think tank said that if it was a bomb attack suspects could include ISIS or the PKK, the Kurdish militant separatists that Turkey considers a terrorist group.

“There’s definitely many reasons why the Turkish reaction is going to be fierce if this was an attack,” he stated.

The Georgian Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, expressed his sorrow over the attack on the Turkish capital. “I convey my heartfelt sympathies to the Government of Turkey, the Turkish people, and everyone who condemns terrorism as a crime against humanity.”

By Zviad Adzinbaia

Edited by Chloe Diamond 

Photo credit: www.cnn.com