Ankara terrorist attack prevents Davutoglu from attending Brussels mini-summit

A terrorist attack in Turkey's capital Ankara on 17 February 2016 killed at least 28 people and wounded dozens of others, as a car laden with explosives detonated next to military buses near the armed forces' headquarters, the parliament and other government buildings.

The attack, the latest in a series of bombings, some blamed on Islamic State, some on Kurdish separatist forces and some unexpalined, came as Turkey got dragged ever deeper into the war in neighboring Syria and tried to contain some of the fiercest violence in decades in its predominantly Kurdish southeast.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on the 18 February 2016 that the suspect was a member of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), an armed faction of the Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD) that has been listed as a terrorist group by Turkey.

US and other western support of the YPG in the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria has caused tension with Turkey, which feared advances by the Kurdish militia in northern Syria would increase separatism among its own Kurdish minority.

On the 19 February 2016 the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) a Turkish-based Kurdish militant group said it had carried out the bomb attack.

Due to the terrorist attacks, prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu cancelled his trip to Brussels, where he was due to take part at a meeting with several other European countries to discuss the migration crisis.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Davutoglu to meet with 11 ‘like-minded’ EU countries http://www.europeansources.info/record/davutoglu-to-meet-with-11-like-minded-eu-countries/

ESO: Background information: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn on today's terrorist attack on Sultanahmet Square in the heart of Istanbul's tourist district http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-by-high-representative-vice-president-federica-mogherini-and-commissioner-johannes-hahn-on-todays-terrorist-attack-on-sultanahmet-square-in-the-heart-of-istanbuls-tourist-district/

EUObserver, 18.02.16: EU migration mini-summit cancelled after Turkey attack https://euobserver.com/migration/132320

EU: EEAS: Statement, 17.02.16: Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn on tonight's terrorist attack in Ankara http://www.eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2016/160217_03_en.htm

BBC News, 17.02.16: Ankara blast: At least 28 dead in Turkish capital explosion http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35599323

The Guardian, 17.02.16: At least 28 killed by Ankara car bomb targeting military personnel http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/17/ankara-explosion-turkey-injures-large-number-of-people-reports-say

Hürriyet Daily News, 17.02.16: At least 28 killed in car bomb attack in Turkish capital Ankara http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/explosion-in-turkish-capital-ankara-cause-unclear.aspx?pageID=238&nID=95349&NewsCatID=341

BBC News, 18.02.16: Ankara blast: Turkey vows retaliation for deadly bomb attack http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35601300

Today's Zaman, 17.02.16: World condemns terror attack at heart of Ankara http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_world-condemns-terror-attack-at-heart-of-ankara_412608.html

The New York Times, 17.02.16: Car Bomb Strikes Military Convoy in Ankara, Killing 28, Officials Say http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/world/europe/turkey-ankara-explosion.html

Euronews, 17.02.16: At least 28 dead as car bomb targets military in Turkish capital Ankara http://www.euronews.com/2016/02/17/at-least-28-dead-as-car-bomb-targets-military-in-turkish-capital-ankara/

Politico, 17.02.16: EU-Turkey migration talks cancelled after Ankara attack http://www.politico.eu/article/turkish-pm-cancels-brussels-trip-after-ankara-attack/

NATO: Newsroom: Press Release, 17.02.16: NATO Secretary General strongly condemns Ankara attack http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_128270.htm

Today's Zaman, 18.02.16: Turkey accuses PYD of Ankara attack, to share evidence with allies http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_turkey-accuses-pyd-of-ankara-attack-to-share-evidence-with-allies_412702.html

Deutsche Welle, 18.02.16: Terror in Turkey: The Q&A with Seda Serdar http://dw.com/p/1Hxkr

European Council: Press Release, 18.02.16: Joint statement of the EU Heads of State or Government and the leaders of the EU institutions on the terrorist attack in Ankara http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/02/18-joint-statement-eu-leaders-ankara-attacks/

Council of Europe: News, 18.02.16: Ankara: Secretary General condemns deadly attack http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/ankara-secretary-general-condemns-deadly-attack?redirect=http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/home?p_p_id=101_INSTANCE_DibKFqnpE518&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=2

ESO: Background information: Turkey urged to stop assaults on Kurdish militias in Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-urged-to-stop-assaults-on-kurdish-militias-in-syria/

ESO: Background information: Letter from Istanbul: Turkey’s unwinnable war http://www.europeansources.info/record/letter-from-istanbul-turkeys-unwinnable-war/

Euro|Topics: Debates, February 2016: Who is behind the Ankara attacks? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/154202/who-is-behind-the-ankara-attacks

Today's Zaman, 19.02.16: Turkish minister says US making conflicting statements over Syrian Kurdish YPG http://www.todayszaman.com/latest-news_turkish-minister-says-us-making-conflicting-statements-over-syrian-kurdish-ypg_412730.html

BBC News, 19.02.16: Turkey bombing: Kurdish TAK group says it attacked Ankara http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35617147

The Economist, 19.02.16: A bombing in Ankara moves Turkey closer to a fight with Syria—and Russia http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21693315-turkey-blames-terror-attack-kurdish-rebels-syria-they-are-backed-america-and

ESO: Background information: A Kurdish attack at the heart of Turkey http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-kurdish-attack-at-the-heart-of-turkey/

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