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| Photo taken on Feb. 1, 2013 shows the explosion site in front of the U.S. embassy in the Turkish capital of Ankara. A suspected suicide bombing occurred here on Friday, killing two people and wounding three others, according to private NTV news channel. (Xinhua/Li Ming) |
ANKARA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A suspected suicide bombing occurred in front of the U.S. embassy in the Turkish capital of Ankara Friday, killing two people and wounding three others, according to private NTV news channel.
The explosion occurred at the entrance used by the embassy personnel and visitors, reported CNNTurk, saying that a security guard at the X-ray machine at the entrance was killed in the explosion when a suspected suicide bomber was passing through the machine.
"At approximately 13:15 on Feb. 1, there was an explosion at the U.S. Embassy. Appropriate measures have been taken by the Turkish Police who are now investigating the incident," U.S. Embassy in Ankara confirmed in a written statement.
Television footage showed that the embassy door had been blown out, with the wall around scattered and body parts strewn around the scene. Dozens of ambulances and fire engines have rushed to the scene, also home to other diplomatic missions.
Ankara Governor Alaaddin Yuksel told reporters, "It was a suicide bombing, and the blast occurred inside the U.S. Embassy building," adding that the gate is the visa section of the embassy compound.
One of the killed was an U.S. security guard and the other was the suicide bomber, said Yuksel.
The Turkish governor, however, declined to comment if they had received any intelligence before the attack.
In his first comments following the explosion, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he needs to be briefed on the explosion.
Turkish police stepped up security measures around the embassy and cordoned off the area for fear of a second possible attack. Police helicopters were also screening the area over the embassy building.
Ankara governor and police department chief went to the site to closely coordinate security measures.
No one or organization has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
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