Kurdish Armed Group Claims Responsibility for Ankara Bombing as Retaliatory Airstrikes Commence
In a shocking turn of events, the administrative capital of Turkiye, Ankara, was hit by a devastating bombing on the 1st of this month, marking the first act of terrorism in seven years since 2016. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an armed Kurdish group advocating for independence, has come forward and taken responsibility for this heinous attack. As tensions escalate, authorities anticipate that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s anti-Kurdish stance will only intensify, worsening the plight of the Kurdish population under his administration. The Ministry of Defense has promptly responded, stating, “We have conducted retaliatory airstrikes against the terrorists, resulting in the elimination of numerous threats.”
With regards to the car bombing at the entrance of the Ministry of Interior building, Turkiye’s authorities have confirmed that “one of the two suspects is affiliated with the PKK.” Further investigations are being conducted to ascertain the identity of the remaining suspect. One of the individuals involved tragically took their own life, while the other was fatally shot by law enforcement. While two police officers sustained injuries, no civilians were harmed in the incident.
The PKK has claimed responsibility for the attack, explicitly stating through the ANF news agency, a Kurdish media outlet, that “Our ‘Immortal Brigade’ carried out this sacrificial operation.” It is worth mentioning that the PKK had previously been implicated in a car bombing incident in downtown Ankara back in March 2016, which claimed the lives of 37 innocent people.
Promptly responding to the terrorist attack, President Erdogan underscored the significance of an act of terrorism occurring in the heart of the capital on the very day the parliament was meant to commence. Taking a resilient stance, Erdogan visited the National Assembly as scheduled and delivered his opening speech, emphasizing that “those who threaten the peace and security of our citizens will never succeed in their malicious goals.”
The Kurdish population spans across Turkiye, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, encompassing approximately 35 million individuals who are known as the world’s largest stateless people. Within this, Turkiye is home to around 14 million Kurds, comprising roughly 16% of the nation’s total population.
Established in 1978, the PKK stands out among the major Kurdish groups for its radical inclinations. Engaging predominantly in armed struggle, the group has been actively striving for independence in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. It is also important to note that the PKK played a pivotal role in obstructing NATO member Turkiye’s efforts to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) following Russia’s incursion into Ukraine last year. Regrettably, Sweden, a neutral country, has struggled to effectively address the PKK’s terrorist activities, despite considering the group as such.
By Kim Ki-yoon, Correspondent in Cairo
Contact: pep@donga.com
Kurdish armed group: “We did it” Turkiye: “Retaliatory airstrikes… “Multiple killings”
On the 1st, a bombing occurred in Ankara, the administrative capital of Turkiye, for the first time in seven years since 2016. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish armed group demanding independence, has claimed responsibility for this terrorist attack. The anti-Kurdish policies of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Türkiye, who have oppressed the Kurds throughout his administration, are expected to deepen. The Ministry of Defense also said, “We carried out airstrikes against terrorists and killed many of them.”
Regarding the car bombing that took place at the entrance to the Ministry of Interior building this morning, Turkiye authorities confirmed that “one of the two suspects is a member of the PKK.” “The identity of the remaining person is also being confirmed,” he said. One of the two died by suicide and the other was killed by the police. Two police officers were injured, but there were no civilian casualties.
The PKK claimed responsibility through Kurdish media’s ANF news agency, saying, “A team from our ‘Immortal Brigade’ carried out a sacrificial operation.” The PKK was also accused of being behind the car bomb explosion in downtown Ankara in March 2016, killing 37 people.
President Erdogan issued a strong response, citing the fact that a terrorist attack took place in the center of the capital on the day when the parliament was supposed to open. He visited the National Assembly and delivered his opening speech as scheduled, saying, “Terrorists who threaten the peace and security of citizens will never be able to achieve their goals.”
The Kurds who live in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran are estimated to be around 35 million people and are known as ‘the world’s largest stateless people’. Of these, 14 million people live in Turkiye, accounting for about 16% of the population.
The PKK, formed in 1978, has the strongest radical tendencies among the main Kurdish groups. Independence activities focused on armed struggle have taken place in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. When Sweden, a neutral country, applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the PKK is also behind the blocking of NATO member Turkiye. Swedish government measures are insufficient against the PKK, which the country considers a terrorist group.
Cairo = Correspondent Kim Ki-yoon pep@donga.com
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