Ankara Bombing: Turkish Government Says PKK Participated in Terrorist Attack With ISIS
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet DavutoÄlu said Wednesday that Kurdish militants played a role in the recent terrorist attacks in Ankara.
According to The Wall Street Journal, DavutoÄlu said the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) conspired with the Islamic State in the twin bombings that killed at least 97 people and left hundreds injured.
"We will continue our probes to exhaust all these organizational ties," DavutoÄlu said. "Regardless of who did this through what links, we will identify those who carried out this vile attack and deliver them to justice."
The Turkish government has been at odds with the PKK movement following the collapse of a ceasefire in July. Conflict between the PKK and Turkish security forces has resulted in deaths on both sides, with over 2,000 PKK militants killed according to Turkish news agency Anadolu.
The bloodshed is the result of PKK demands for more autonomy in the country's southeast. The Turkish government has often associated the PKK with ISIS, labeling both groups as terrorist organizations that pose threats to the country.
The bombings targeted a public rally calling for peace between the PKK and the Turkish forces. It was the worst terrorist attack in modern Turkish history.
DavutoÄlu has also called out the U.S. and Russia for aiding the Syrian Democratic Union party (PYD) in their fight against ISIS. The Kurdish group has been accused of having ties to the PKK.
"We have a clear position. That position has been conveyed to the United States and the Russian Federation. Turkey cannot accept any cooperation with terrorist organizations which have waged war against it," DavutoÄlu said in a televised address, according to The Guardian.
The U.S.-led coalition against ISIS recently parachuted weapons to the Syrian rebel forces. Turkey is concerned that these weapons could find their way into the hands of the PKK.
"We won't allow let the weapons stockpiling over there to enter Turkey," the prime minister said.
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