2 Suspects Dead After Suicide Bomb Detonates Near Turkish Government Building in Ankara

Two terrorists were neutralized after carrying out a bomb attack in front of Turkey's Interior Ministry building in Ankara on Sunday (October 1), hours ahead of the opening of parliament.

It was reported that lawmakers were to return to work after a summer recess, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was supposed to address the assembly a kilometer away from the scene.

Security footage obtained by Reuters showed the attackers arriving in a light commercial vehicle in front of the building.

Turkish interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement that two police officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries after one of the attackers blew himself up, while the other assailant was shot dead by police.

The attackers allegedly targeted a guard tower in front of the entrance to the building, which was slightly damaged in the blast.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of this writing.

Second Attacker Also Has a Bomb

On the other hand, CNN's Turkish affiliate reportedly showed the crime scene cordoned off and a bomb squad searching for other suspicious packages.

Officers eventually discovered an unexploded bomb on the body of the neutralized terrorist, and was safely detonated after the attack.

Turkish attorney-general Yilmaz Tunc said that an investigation into the incident is underway. He added that the attacks would not hinder the country's fight against terrorism.

Sunday's bombing attack was the latest in a long history of terror attacks in Turkey, commonplace in the mid-to late-2010s when the insecurity from war-torn Syria extended northwards.

The most significant attack was the twin bombings 2015, which targeted a peace rally near the Turkish capital's main train station. Almost 100 people were killed during the incidents.

Wider Context

Meanwhile, the US and Egyptian embassies in Ankara reportedly condemned the attack, saying that both countries were standing in solidarity with Turkey.

The international community would closely monitor Ersogan's speech for indications about the Turkish parliament's ratification of Sweden's membership application in NATO. The speech would also be watched for any statements regarding the fall of Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh and his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.