Bomb Rocks Turkish Capital

Conflicting reports on casualties, but at least 15 wounded
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 20, 2011 7:14 AM CDT
Bomb Rocks Turkish Capital
Turkish police officer, firefighters and forensic experts work on September 20, 2011 the site of powerful bomb explosion that wounded at least 15 people in the center of the Turkish capital Ankara.   (Getty Images)

A suspected car bomb rocked the Turkish capital of Ankara today, and al-Jazeera cites reports claiming that at least two people were killed. No one has yet claimed responsibility, but Kurdish rebels have been escalating their decades-long fight for autonomy and attacking Turkish targets. Rebel groups, as well as Islamic and leftist militants, have all previously used bombs in the country.

Reports of casualties are conflicting: The AP reports none, but says 15 were injured, including three seriously. Reuters, meanwhile, acknowledges the reports of two deaths but quotes a local mayor who says no one has died, but that three have been seriously injured. A local news agency has reported that a woman was detained near the scene. “I felt the blast effect of the explosion some 500 meters away,” says one witness. “I saw vehicles on fire and an injured man said people lost their limbs.” (More Kurdish rebels stories.)

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