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Thursday March 28, 2024

Twin explosions rock Turkish capital; death toll rises to 86

ANKARA: At least 86 people were killed on Saturday in twin explosions targeting a peace rally in the Turkish capital Ankara, the health minister said.

Sixty-two people died at the scene of the blasts and 24 more then succumbed to their wounds in hospital, Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu told reporters here. He said that 186 people were wounded.

The explosion took place

By GEO ENGLISH
October 10, 2015
ANKARA: At least 86 people were killed on Saturday in twin explosions targeting a peace rally in the Turkish capital Ankara, the health minister said.

Sixty-two people died at the scene of the blasts and 24 more then succumbed to their wounds in hospital, Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu told reporters here. He said that 186 people were wounded.

The explosion took place outside the main train station in Ankara, where people were gathering for a peace march, Dogan news agency reported.

A Reuters reporter at the scene reported seeing multiple bodies covered by flags, with bloodstains and body parts scattered on the road following the explosion.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said there were reports that the blast was caused by a suicide bomber, but the source of those reports was unclear.

The blast occurred ahead of a planned "peace" march to protest against the conflict between the state and Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey. Media reports suggest there were two explosions.

Dogan news agency video footage showed those involved in the march tending to wounded individuals lying on the ground while hundreds of people wandered around the streets.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear but a government official told Reuters it was being investigated.

The explosion occurred at a time of growing security concerns in Turkey, and three weeks ahead of a parliamentary election–AFP/Reuters

This is a developing story and will updated as we receive reports from the field