The February 2016 Ankara bombing killed at least 30 people and injured 60 in the capital of Turkey.^[4] According to Turkish authorities, the attack targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying both civilian and military personnel working at the military headquarters during the evening rush hour^[6] as the vehicles were stopped at traffic lights at an intersection with İsmet İnönü Boulevard close to Kızılay neighborhood. Several ministries, the headquarters of the army and the Turkish Parliament are located in the neighbourhood where the attack occurred.^[7][8][9] The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) took responsibility for the attack and said they targeted security forces.^[10][11] Censorship monitoring organization Turkey Blocks reported nationwide internet restrictions beginning approximately one hour after the blast pursuant to an administrative order.^[12][13][14] The attack killed 14 military personnel, 14 civilian employees of the military, and a civilian (as well as the perpetrator).

Quick Facts Location, Coordinates ...

February 2016 Ankara bombing
Part of Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)
Location	Ankara, Turkey
Coordinates	39.9154°N 32.8406°E / 39.9154; 32.8406
Date	17 February 2016 18:31 (UTC+2)
Target	Military personnel
Attack type	Car bombing, suicide bombing
Deaths	14 civilian employees of Turkish Armed Forces 14 soldiers 1 civilian 1 perpetrator Total: 30[1][2][3]
Injured	60[4]
Perpetrator	Abdulbaki Sömer[5] Kurdistan Freedom Hawks
Motive	Anti-Turkish

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In October 2015, a bombing at a peace rally in Ankara against a crackdown on Kurds in the country amidst the renewed PKK rebellion following a breakdown of the ceasefire killed over 100 people. On 13 February, Turkish shelling of Kurdish positions in response to "incoming Kurdish fire" and against the backdrop of YPG territorial gains in northern Syria^[15][16] led, at the request of Russia, to a UN briefing in which the president of the United Nations Security Council Rafael Carreno said that all members during the closed-door meeting expressed their concern at Turkey's actions and called on the country to "comply with international law".^[17][18]

Following the UNSC vote and just hours before the bombing, Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, referred to PYD as a "terrorist organisation" akin to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), DHKP-C and Al-Nusra Front and stressed that the attacks against PYD's armed wing, YPG, will continue until it stops alleged threats against Turkey's national security.^[19]

Location where the attack occurred

Merasim Street

A car bomb detonated at 18:31 local time, while army buses carrying military personnel were waiting at traffic lights.^[10][20][21] The attack site was next to a residential block for high-ranking military personnel.^{[citation needed]} Some Turkish news channels showed images of a raging fire that engulfed military vehicles after the explosion, heard several kilometres away.^[22][23]

At least 30 people, including the perpetrator, died and 60 were injured as a result of the blast. The initial dead included the perpetrator, 12 soldiers, 16 civilian employees of the military and a journalist.^[24] Another civilian died from his wounds in hospital on 23 February 2016.^[25] A list of the first dead was published on 18 February.^[26]

Initially, Turkish government declared the name of assailant as Salih Necar, a Syrian Kurd who was trained by YPG, PKK and Syrian government.^[27] Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) claimed responsibility and named the suicide bomber as Abdülbaki Sönmez and released a photo of him, which was later claimed to be an edited image of a Turkish blogger.^{[11][28][29][30][31][32]}

Later, DNA reports confirmed that perpetrator was Turkish-born Abdulbaki Sönmez, not Syrian-born Salih Necar who was shown as perpetrator to the world by Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Also, Syrian Kurdish authorities announced that a person named Salih Necar from Hasakah doesn't exist.^{[5][33][34][35]}

After DNA reports Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Numan Kurtulmuş said that "the name of the perpetrator may be different but it does not change the reality of this matter. This person has entered Turkey from the PYD region and there is record of him assuming the given identity.".^[36] Turkish government is claiming that YPG, taking orders from PKK, is responsible from the massacre, and TAK is used as a way to "exonerate" the YPG.^[37] Turkish government is also worried about NATO allies of support of YPG, prime minister Davutoğlu said “We cannot excuse any NATO ally, including the US, of having links with a terrorist organisation [YPG] that strikes us in the heart of Turkey”.^[38]

Turkish authorities claimed that the perpetrator was trained as a suicide bomber in Syrian Rojava by YPG and entered Turkey as a refugee. Turkey claims that the attack was planned by the YPG, PKK, PYD and the Syrian government.^[39][40]

The suicide bomber was eventually confirmed as Abdülbaki Sönmez, a citizen of Turkey.

• 2015 Ankara bombings
• March 2016 Ankara bombing
• Cizre operation (2015)
• Kurds in Turkey