Ankara suicide bomber identified

24/05/2007| IslamWeb

Turkey has said that a male suicide bomber carried out the attack that killed six people and injured more than 100 others in Turkey's capital on Tuesday.

Kemal Onal, the Ankara governor, identified the suicide attacker as 28-year-old Guven Akkus, who had two separate criminal records and spent two years in prison.

The governor said the attack was similar to those carried out by Kurdish separatist fighters.

"The type of the explosives and equipment used is similar to those used by the separatist group [PKK], Onal said.

But the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) denied any role in the bombing.

"We announce that we ... have no connection with this attack and that we do not approve of such methods," said a statement from the PKK, which has been fighting for self-rule in Turkey's southeast since 1984.

The statement was published on the website of Firat, a pro-Kurdish news agency.

Military offensive

Meanwhile, the Turkish prime minister has shown support for a proposed offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq following the bombing, state media reported on Wednesday.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the government "will do whatever is necessary" to maintain peace, the Anatolian news agency quoted him as saying.

"On this issue there can be no question of any difference of opinion with our armed forces, with our soldiers...," he said. "On this issue, when it is necessary this step will be taken."

Erdogan was responding to a suggestion last month by Yasar Buyukanit, the armed forces chief, for troops to enter Iraq to quash the rebels.

Ankara says thousands of PKK guerrillas use northern Iraq as a base.

'Bomber' detained

Turkish police on Wednesday detained a suspected suicide bomber in possession of 11.3 kg of plastic explosives in the southern city of Adana, the local governor said.

Ilhan Atis, the governor of Adana, told the Anatolia news agency that police, acting on a tip-off, detained a woman who tried to flee when officers stopped the vehicle she was travelling in.

Her bag contained the plastic explosives, two hand grenades and 12 detonators, Atis said.

"It is understood that she is a suicide bomber."

The governor did not say whether the woman belonged to any group and said a detailed statement would come after she is questioned.

Worst blast

The rush-hour explosion at the entrance of an Ankara shopping mall was believed to be the worst in at least a decade to strike the capital and came at a time of heightened political tension in the European Union-aspirant country.

Turkish media said eight people had been detained in connection with the blast.

Leading newspapers Hurriyet and Radikal said that the blast took place shortly before senior military commanders, including Buyukanit, were due to pass the area to go to a defence-industry reception.

PHOTO CAPTION

Guven Akus is seen in this undated handout photo distributed to the media by Ankara Governor Kemal Onal May 23, 2007. (Reuters)

Al-Jazeera