At least 13 Turkish soldiers were killed and 55 more wounded after a bus exploded in Kayseri city on Saturday, BBC reported. An Army spokesperson said civilians were also likely to have been injured in the attack, which took place in a local market.
The region’s governor said the bomb was planted in a car that was parked next to the bus carrying the security personnel. Although no group has claimed responsibility yet, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it was the handiwork of Kurdistan Workers’ Party militants, reported The Guardian. He issued a statement, claiming that the attack was linked to the developments in Iraq and Syria.
Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak also compared the blast with the December 10 explosion carried out by Kurdish militants outside a football stadium that had killed 38 people. “The car bomb attack resembles the Besiktas attack in terms of its style,” said Kaynak, according to Reuters. He added that the attack would not stop Turkey from fighting militancy.
In June this year, 47 people were killed in a triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport. In August, 57 people were killed in a suicide attack in Gaziantep. Both attacks were linked to the Islamic State group.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!