Ankara bomb blasts kill 86 at peace rally; 186 wounded Saturday Oct 10,2015

 

Two bomb explosions targeted a peace rally Saturday Oct 10,2015 by leftist and Kurdish activists in the Turkish capital of Ankara, killing 86 people and wounding 186, the country's health minister said.

The explosions occurred seconds apart outside Ankara's main train station as hundreds were gathering for the rally, organized by Turkey's public sector workers' union and other civic society groups. The rally was to call for increased democracy and an end to the renewed violence between Kurdish rebels and Turkish security forces.

Authorities were investigating whether the attacks — which struck 50 meters (yards) apart — were suicide bombings. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the deadliest attacks in Turkey in years.

Television footage from Turkey's Dogan news agency showed a line of protesters on the street near the train station, chanting and performing a traditional dance with their hands locked, when a large explosion went off behind them.

The video also showed several people later lying injured on the streets or being taken into ambulances. Scuffles broke out between police and family members frantically searching for loved ones or complaining about the poor police response