Several military vehicles exploded Wednesday evening, February 17th, at an intersection in the Turkish capital of Ankara. The Turkish military said that it was a terrorist attack, according to officials. Three military vehicles and one private vehicle were hit by the explosion, which took place in central Ankara near Turkish Parliament buildings. According to Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, 28 people were killed and 61 others were injured during the incident. Turkish news agency Anadolu cited Ankara Gov. Mehmet Kiliclar, who reportedly believed that the explosion was caused by a car bomb. The attack occurred while the vehicles were waiting for traffic lights at a road junction, said the Turkish military. Witnesses stated that they had seen large flames, flashing lights, and smoke. They also reported being able to smell the explosion from blocks away. Despite the devastating death toll, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

“Our determination to respond in kind against such attacks against our unity and future from outside and inside is even more strengthened through such attacks,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “Turkey will not hesitate to use its right to self-defense anytime, anywhere, and in all situations.” U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter also agreed, saying, “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.” Current suspected perpetrators include ISIS and the PKK, a Kurdish militant separatist group considered a terrorist organization by the Turkish government. However, February 17th’s attack is not the first, but part of a long series of attacks in Turkey, including a suicide bombing last month by ISIS jihadists in the city of Istanbul that ultimately killed 11 tourists. The mayor of Ankara, Melih Gokcek, shared his condolences online. “May all those brothers and sisters martyred rest in peace. We wish for patience for the families and offer our condolences. These kinds of attacks could happen to us all. The perpetrators of this attack will get their comeuppance. Don’t doubt that.”

<Lauren Song, OCSA, 10th Grade>