PKK claims responsibility for Ankara terror attack

The banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for an attack in Ankara that killed five people. The PKK-affiliated ANF news agency wrote the article, citing the group's military wing HPG. The attack was carried out by an autonomous squad from the “Immortal Battalion”.

The attack came shortly after a statement by ultranationalists from the MHP party, the government partner of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) . She discussed the possible release of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. In HPG's communication, the connection was explicitly refused.

Attacks target defense companies

Wednesday's attack targeted one of Türkiye's most important defense companies. Four of the dead were Tusas employees. The attack took place on the outskirts of the capital Ankara, killing 22 people and injuring 22 others. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said two suspected attackers, a man and a woman, were killed.

The PKK spoke of two dead “heroes”. Tusas is a “military target” because the company manufactures weapons that kill “civilians in Kurdistan.” According to experts, the Turkish government is using the company's drones against the PKK.

air strike response

Hours after the attack, the Turkish government launched airstrikes against targets in northern Iraq and Syria. The headquarters of the PKK is located in the Qandil Mountains of northern Iraq. President Erdogan said the attack was the result of “Syrian infiltration.” In northern Syria, Ankara has frequently carried out operations against the Syrian Kurdish militia YPG, which it considers an offshoot of the PKK. Kurdish militias in Syria have reported civilian killings, while the Turkish government has spoken of dead “terrorists”.

PKK fights Turkish government

The PKK has launched serious attacks in Türkiye, including Ankara, on several occasions in the past. The PKK has been fighting the Turkish government since the 1980s and has launched numerous attacks. It is listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the European Union and the United States.

On Tuesday, ultranationalist MHP leader Devlet Bahceli discussed the possibility of freeing Ocalan, a PKK leader who has been imprisoned for more than two decades, if he announces he will disarm the group. leader.

A new peace process?

Observers believe this indicates the possibility of a new peace process between the government and the PKK. The last attempt failed in 2015. Ocalan published a message through a visitor on Wednesday and was quoted as saying: “If the conditions are right, I have the theoretical and practical power to advance this process from the level of conflict and violence to the political and legal level. “

The PKK said it welcomed Ocalan's message and would assess the situation as it develops. The attack was premeditated and had nothing to do with current political discussions. (DAB/Sudan Development Authority/Department of Political Affairs)

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