Common Dreams, October 10, 2015

Explosions Rock Pro-Kurdish Turkish Peace Rally; Police Block Ambulances Trying to Help Victims (PHOTOS & VIDEOS)

At least 86 dead; 180 wounded

Twin explosions outside Ankara’s main train station on Saturday morning killed at least 86 people and wounded up to 190 in an attack targeting a peace rally in Turkey's capital city.

The peace rally and march was organized by unions, NGO's and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) to protest against the conflict between the state and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in southeast Turkey.

A video caught the moment the first bomb went off.

A line of men and women were holding hands and singing as people milled in the background waving banners with anti-violence slogans, when the huge blast rocked the crowd.

Hundreds of protesters then clashed with police after officers blocked off a road keeping ambulances from aiding victims of this morning’s bombing.

Bulent Tekdemir, who was at the rally, told the BBC that police used tear gas shortly after the explosions at 10am and “would not let ambulances through” in the aftermath.

Footage showed lines of riot officers appearing to block a road near the blast site, with ambulances parked in the background.

Click here to watch the moment of the blast blast ( https://www.facebook.com/evrenselgzt/videos/vb.360933977920/10153244709377921/?type=2&theater )
Click here to watch the people protest police blocking ambulances ( https://www.facebook.com/evrenselgzt/videos/vb.360933977920/10153244883967921/?type=2&theater )
Click here to watch people protesting after the suicide attack ( https://www.facebook.com/evrenselgzt/videos/vb.360933977920/10153245042397921/?type=2&theater )
Watch more videos here: Facebook.com/evrenselgzt/videos

October 10, 2015: Aftermath of blast in Ankara on pro-Kurdish protest that killed dozens. (Photo: AFP)

October 10, 2015: Flags were put on dead bodies scattered on the site of blast in Ankara on pro-Kurdish protest that killed dozens. (Photo: AFP)

October 10, 2015: Dead bodies scattered on the site of blast in Ankara on pro-Kurdish protest that killed dozens. (Photo: AFP)

October 10, 2015: 'State is the murderer' reads the banner in Istanbul protest amid the bomb attack in Turkey. (Photo: @imc_televizyonu)

October 10, 2015: Kurdish men shout slogans in Diyarbakir during a protest against the explosions in Ankara today. (Photo: Twitter)

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