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Iran condemns deadly blasts in Turkish capital

Turkish police forces (rear) secure the site of twin explosions as victims' bodies on the street are covered with banners and flags, near the main train station in Turkey's capital, Ankara, on October 10, 2015. (AFP photo)

Iran has condemned the two deadly bomb blasts that hit a rally in the Turkish capital, Ankara, extending condolences to the Turkish government and nation.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham on Saturday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic attack and offered Tehran’s sympathy to the families of the victims.

On Saturday, twin explosions targeted activists who had convened outside Ankara's main train station for a peace rally organised by leftist and pro-Kurdish opposition groups. Ankara has said 86 people were killed and 186 wounded in the attacks. However, HDP says the death toll is at least 97. 

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham

 

Following the blasts, Selahattin Demirtas, the leader of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), said in Ankara that the attack was a repeat of the bombing of an HDP rally in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir ahead of the June 7 elections and a July 20 bombing blamed on the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the town of Suruc that killed over 30 pro-Kurdish activists. He criticized the Turkish government for its security and intelligence failures to prevent the attacks.

The Turkish government has declared three days of national mourning over the blasts in the capital, with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu saying that there were “strong signs” that the attacks were due to two bombers blowing themselves up.

Turkish riot police forces secure the site of twin explosions outside the main train station in Turkey's capital, Ankara, on October 10, 2015. (AFP photo)

 

He added that the Daesh Takfiris, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants and the outlawed leftist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) are potential suspects.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also condemned the blasts as a “heinous attack” on the country’s “unity” and “peace.” He said the perpetrators would be found and “be delivered to justice.”


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