Turkish Interior Minister Links Syrian Kurdish Militants to Ankara Bombings

Turkish officials said on Tuesday that a female suicide bomber linked to Syrian Kurdish militants was responsible for the bombing in Ankara on Sunday. According to AFP, the Turkish Interior Minister stated that the bomber, named Sahar Chagla Demir, was born in 1992 in the northeastern city of Kars. The minister indicated that this woman had been associated with members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for the past three years and had traveled to Syria during this time, where she received training from the People's Protection Units (YPG). The YPG is a Syrian militia (the military branch of the Kurdish Supreme Committee) that the Turkish government considers a terrorist group linked to the PKK. A large explosion occurred on Sunday evening, March 14, in a crowded neighborhood near the Turkish Ministry of Justice in Ankara, resulting in 37 deaths and many injuries. Although the Turkish Interior Ministry has officially released the name of the bomber and her political affiliations, no group has yet claimed responsibility for the March 14 bombings. The Turkish government has stated that it is 'almost certain' that the bombings were carried out by Kurdish rebels. In similar past incidents, such as the bombings in Ankara in October and February, the Turkish government pointed fingers at the Kurds. The Turkish Interior Minister expressed condolences to the victims' families and stated that extensive investigations would be launched in this regard. Turkey has been engaged in heavy clashes with Kurdish rebels in the south for months, and Diyarbakir has been under a state of emergency throughout this time. Following the bombing on Sunday, the Diyarbakir region witnessed increased clashes between government forces and Kurdish militants on Monday night. According to AFP, rebels in Diyarbakir have set up barricades and set vehicles on fire in the streets. The police have also resorted to violence in response. These clashes continued on Tuesday in the Baglar region of Diyarbakir province. During these recent clashes, PKK members have used rockets and automatic weapons. According to security officials, one police officer and three militants were killed, and ten civilians were injured during the clashes. Last week, the Turkish army announced the end of a three-month operation in the Sur neighborhood of Diyarbakir. Nevertheless, special police forces have initiated new operations in three areas in southeastern cities, all currently under martial law. Following the bombing on Sunday, which resulted in at least 27 deaths, the Turkish army continued its operations outside Turkey, bombing PKK positions in northern Iraq. Ahmet Davutoglu previously announced that eleven people had been arrested in connection with the Ankara bombing. Meanwhile, Cemil Bayik, the leader of the Kurdish rebels, warned the Turkish government on Tuesday in an interview with the British newspaper Times that it should expect a response due to its military operations in the southeast.