Ankara on High Alert: Coordinated Assault Targets Turkish Interior Ministry Ahead of Parliament’s Return

By Hatem Mamdouh On Oct 1, 2023

Ankara, Turkey — A meticulously planned terrorist attack occurred in the Turkish capital, Ankara, this morning, unsettling the country’s political landscape hours before the Parliament was set to reconvene after its summer recess. The assailants targeted the General Directorate of Security, a subsidiary of the Turkish Ministry of Interior, in what appears to be a coordinated effort to destabilize government functions.

Coordinated Assault Targets Turkish Interior Ministry Ahead of Parliament's Return-Image Source: X

The Attack

At approximately 9:30 a.m., two assailants driving a light commercial vehicle launched a complex attack involving explosives and gunfire at the entrance gate of the Interior Ministry’s General Directorate of Security. One assailant detonated an explosive device, causing significant damage, while the second attacker was neutralized in a gunfire exchange with the police. Video footage circulating on the platform “X” (formerly known as Twitter) showed police cars surrounding the area.

An explosion and ensuing gunfire hit the Turkish capital #Ankara pic.twitter.com/XYxagE9RyK

— Arlington Post (@Arlpost) October 1, 2023

#Turkey (#Türkiye) 🇹🇷: Two men carried out an attack near the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in #Ankara.

One of the attackers was carrying a #Russian 🇷🇺 RPO-A Shmel thermobaric rocket launcher —which is seemingly unfired.
It’s originally supplied by #Russia to… pic.twitter.com/lyttGwlCUv

— War Noir (@war_noir) October 1, 2023

Official Statement

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerli Kaya confirmed the events on his official “X” account. He also revealed that two police officers sustained minor injuries during the incident. Ankara’s public prosecutor’s office has since initiated a comprehensive investigation into this act of terrorism.

Hain terör saldırısı girişiminde yaralanan kahraman polislerimiz Alim Reis Demirel ve Erkan Karataş’ı tedavi gördükleri hastanede ziyaret ettim.

İki kahramanımızın da durumu şükürler olsun iyi.

Rabbimden acil şifalar diliyorum.

Ve bir kez daha tekrarlıyorum:

AZİZ MİLLETİMİZİN… pic.twitter.com/Mde89p2ypg

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) October 1, 2023

Wider Implications

The attack coincided with the planned opening of the new legislative session in the Turkish Parliament today, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was scheduled to deliver a speech. The precinct where the bombing took place is a nerve center for the Turkish government, housing multiple ministries and the Parliament building.

Ankara explosion is a “terrorist attack,” according to the Interior Minister-Image Source: Reuters

In light of this event, the police have imposed a security cordon around the city center, raising questions about the sufficiency of existing security measures and prompting urgent calls for the government to reassess its counter-terrorism strategies.