Turkey Bomb Blasts: Islamic State Group 'No. 1 Priority' Of Probe In Ankara Bombing, Death Toll Rises To 97
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Monday that the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, is the prime suspect in a twin suicide bombing that killed at least 97 people at a peace rally in capital Ankara Saturday. Davutoglu also reportedly said authorities are close to identifying one of the bombers.
In a live interview on Turkish broadcaster NTV, Davutoglu said the attack was aimed to "cast a shadow" over Turkey's parliamentary election on Nov. 1 and an attempt to influence the results. The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) alleged that up to 128 people died in the blasts outside Ankara's main train station that targeted activists who held the rally to call for an end to the renewed violence between Kurdish rebels and Turkish security forces.
"It was definitely a suicide bombing. DNA tests are being conducted. It was determined how the suicide bombers got there. We're close to a name, which points to one group," Davutoglu said of the country's deadliest attack in years, according to Reuters. Davutoglu reportedly confirmed that ISIS was the "No.1 priority" of the investigation.
Investigators were testing DNA samples obtained from families of some 20 Turks believed to be ISIS militants, Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak reported, according to the Associated Press.
Turkish Interior Minister Selami Altinok said the capital city was taking extra security precautions in the wake of the blasts, Reuters reported, citing CNN.
HDP spokesman Ayhan Bilgen told Reuters that the party is considering canceling all rallies amid security concerns.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people marched toward a mosque in an Istanbul suburb for the funeral service of several victims of the deadly attack.
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