Blasts Hits Rally in Turkish Capital, 30 Killed

Local Editor

At least 30 people had lost their lives after two large explosions rocked a road junction in the center of Turkey's capital, Ankara, local media say.

The Turkish Interior Ministry announced the number of fatalities, saying 126 people were also wounded in the incident. Photos posted on social media show a number of bodies at the scene.

Furthermore, TV footage shows scenes of panic and people lying on the ground covered in blood, amid protest banners.

According to Turkey's Dogan news agency, the blasts took place near the city's central train station.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is being briefed by the interior and health ministers, state news agency Anadolu said.

Government officials said the blasts were a terrorist attack and were investigating reports that a suicide bomber was behind at least one of the explosions.

The leader of the pro-Kurdish HDP party blamed the state for the attack, and cancelled all election rallies.

The HDP was among those calling for Saturday's rally for "peace and democracy", which was due to start at 12:00 local time.

Moreover, the party tweeted that there were "numerous dead and injured", and that police "attacked" people carrying the injured away.

Local resident Emre indicated that he heard two separate explosions and saw a number of dead bodies. Angry people tried to attack police cars, he said.

An HDP rally in the city of Diyarbakir was bombed in June, ahead of general elections.

Turkey is holding another election next month; it was feared that another similar attack was imminent.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team