Suspected car bomb blasts Turkish capital

GlobalPost

A suspected car bomb has blasted the center of the Turkish capital, Ankara, wounding more than a dozen people.

Some earlier reports said people had been killed in the explosion in the central commercial district of Kizilay, BBC reports.

Turkey's deputy prime minister said "there is information that a bomb was planted" on a vehicle.

A bomb squad was sent to the area of the blast and firefighters contained a fire.

Several parked cars outside the local state authority's officers were ablaze and windows were blown out in nearby buildings, BBC reports.

Kurdish, leftist and Islamic militants have carried out bomb attacks in Turkey in the past.

A local TV station reported that the explosion occurred in a minibus, Reuters reports.

Reuters reports:

Dogan News Agency quoted police sources as saying the blast was caused by a bomb and fire service officials as saying that two people had died. It also reported that police had detained a woman near the scene.

Cankaya Mayor Bulent Tanik said nobody was killed but three people had been seriously wounded, while broadcaster CNN Turk said 20 people were wounded and were being treated at three hospitals.

Do you support journalism that strengthens our democracy?

At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.

Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever! Every gift will be matched 2:1, so your impact will go even further.