A view of a damaged vehicle behind a security officer outside the General Directorate of Security in Ankara (Picture: Anadolu/Getty Images)
A suicide bomber had detonated an explosive device in front of the interior ministry building in the Turkish capital, wounding two police officers.
Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that two blasts rocked the Kızılay, Ankara, building at 9.30am local time today.
Two men drove pulled up outside the entrance gate to the General Directorate of Security in a ‘light commercial vehicle’ and opened fire at security officers, local media said.
One of them blew himself up and the other was ‘neutralised’, Yerlikaya added, using a term often used by Turkish authorities to describe terrorists captured dead or alive.
‘During the fire, two of our police officers were slightly injured. I wish a speedy recovery to our heroes.’
Emergency services and special forces are at the scene, Turkish news network Haber Global reported.
Armoured vehicles have been deployed to the scene as security measures are ramped up (Picture: Getty Images/Anadolu)
There were reports of gunfire (Picture: Getty Images)
Atatürk Boulevard, one of Ankara’s main streets which houses several government, media and cultural buildings as well as the Turkish parliament building to the west, has been closed to traffic.
The city’s chief public prosecutor’s office has said an investigation has been launched into the incident, justice minister Yılmaz Tunç said on X.
‘These attacks will in no way hinder Turkey’s fight against terrorism. Our fight against terrorism will continue even more determinedly,’ he said.
‘No one should doubt this.’
An access ban and publication ban have been issued on the news about the incident, Turkish news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
A controlled explosion will be carried out for security purposes on Meşrutiyet Street, Turkish national police said. Bomb squads are inspecting the damaged vehicle.
Prosecutors have opened an investigation (Picture: Getty Images/Anadolu)
The other man has been ‘neutralised’, the minister said (Picture: Getty Images/Anadolu)
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of the opposition party Republican People’s Party, condemned the attack on X.
‘Terrorism is a crime against humanity. No matter who and where it comes from, we will fight together as a country, we will never give an opportunity to treacherous ambitions!’ he said.
‘Get well soon, my Turkey.’
The new legislative year is planned to start today in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is set to attend the opening.
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