Ankara, October 10 (RHC)-- At least 86 people have lost their lives after two large explosions rocked a road junction in the center of Turkey’s capital, Ankara. The blasts occurred at 10 a.m. local time (0704 GMT) on Saturday outside the main train station in Ankara, where a group of demonstrators had gathered for an anti-government peace march, Turkey’s Dogan news agency reported.
The Turkish Interior Ministry announced the number of fatalities, saying 126 people were also wounded in the incident. Witnesses said several dead bodies were seen scattered on the floor at the site of the blasts.
Authorities in Ankara say the blasts were a terrorist attack. They are investigating the possibility that a bomber might have been behind the explosions, according to the Anadolu news agency.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is set to hold an emergency meeting with security forces over the explosions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also censured the “heinous attack,” which he said targeted the “unity” and “peace” in the country, describing “solidarity and determination as the most meaningful response to terror.”