A large explosion in the Turkish capital, Ankara, has left at least 28 peopleA vehicle full of explosives was detonated as military buses were passing by, according to the Ankara governor’s office.
The attack targeted a shuttle bus carrying military personnel, and there were several other military vehicles nearby – all of which were waiting at the traffic lights. Most of the casualties are believed to be soldiers.
The Turkish army strongly condemned the attack and called it “a treacherous terror act”.
The blast, which the Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag called an “act of terrorism”, happened in an area close to parliament and Turkey’s military headquarters, the BBC reports.
Large plumes of smoke were seen rising from the area and witnesses said the blast was heard all over the city.
Ambulances and fire engines were sent to the scene.
Security forces carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect package after the blast.
Turkey’s Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has cancelled a trip to Brussels.
Turkey has been hit by a serious of attacks recently, and there have been increasing concerns that the country could be targeted by another big attack, the BBC’s Selin Girit in Istanbul reports.
Hundreds of people have been offering their condolences to the relatives of the dead, condemning the attack, posting pictures and videos of the aftermath of the scene on social media.
In October, over a hundred people were killed in simultaneous explosions targeting a peace march in Ankara. That attack had polarised society further. dead and 61 injured, Turkish officials said on Wednesday.
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