Turkey sees Islamic State hand in Ankara bombings: Security sources

While no one group has been ruled out in the bombings, government opponents blamed security forces for failing to protect the peace rally. It said 48 of them were in serious condition.

But the premier said groups including Islamic State (IS) jihadists, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the far-left Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) were capable of carrying out such an attack.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said there were “strong signs” that the explosions were suicide bombings and suggested that Kurdish rebels or Islamic State group militants could be responsible. It quoted Obama as saying the USA “shared Turkey’s grief”. While the country has claimed to be in a heightened state of alert since July, there are still a few who believe that not enough has been done inside Turkey to fight against the terrorist threat plaguing the Middle East. It is time for Turkey to realise that it is in the thick of the war on terror. The Holy Father said he received the news with great sorrow and spoke of his pain for those who were killed and wounded in the explosions.

The official death toll, announced by Turkey’s health minister, still stood at 86 killed and 186 wounded.

“It took place in the heart of the Turkish capital, across from the city’s central train station, a symbolic landmark of Ataturk’s Ankara, as well as killing so many people”, he told reporters.

“My thoughts are with the victims and their families”, Cameron said.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), a major presence at Saturday’s march, said police attacked its leaders and members as they tried to leave carnations earlier at the scene. Liberals and others who once supported Erdogan’s reforms now fear attack from elements of the state.

Health Minister Mehmet Muezzionglu said that 62 people died on the spot while 24 people succumbed to injuries in hospitals.

The attack in July was one of Isil’s most significant on Turkish soil and led to Ankara allowing the USA to use its Incirlik airbase to attack the extremist group as well as joining the United States coalition-led air strikes against Isil.

Paris has a large and active Kurdish community.

In a letter made public Sunday, Elizabeth told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan she is deeply upset by the bombing. Demonstrators formed a human chain around the attacked area and laid out scores of lifeless bodies in front of the station, covering them with flags of unions, political parties and civilian organizations participating in the “Labor, Peace and Democracy” march.

Cancelling all election rallies, Mr Demirtas condemned the government as “murderers” and said it had blood on its hands.

The two explosions happened shortly after 10:00 as crowds gathered ahead of the rally.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said “there can be no justification for such a horrendous attack on people marching for peace…”

Price says the USA condemns the bombing and offers its condolences to the loved ones of the victims. German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed “sadness and dismay” over the attacks.