Turkish police use tear gas to stop mourners laying carnations at the site of bombings in Ankara that killed 97 people as officials say 'initial signs point to ISIS responsibility'.
Turkish police fired tear gas to disperse mourners who were laying flowers at the site of Turkey's deadliest ever terror attack this morning.
Two Turkish security sources said 'initial signs' suggest ISIS were behind the two explosions which killed at least 97 and wounded 247 more at a peace rally in Ankara yesterday.
Protesters clashed with riot police in Istanbul last night as they took to the streets to denounce the attacks. And today, police clashed with demonstrators and pro-Kurdish officials at the scene of the disaster near Ankara's main train station.
They held back the mourners, including the pro-Kurdish party's leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, insisting that investigators were still working at the site.
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No mercy: Mourners who tried to lay flowers at the site of the double explosion this morning were dispersed by riot police
Paying respects: A woman waits with flowers as Turkish police secure the area one day after multiple explosions ahead of a rally in Ankara this morning
In mourning: Mourners marched towards a central square in Ankara today, chanting slogans against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who many hold responsible for the spiraling violence in Turkey
Distraught: A woman mourns for victims as her friends comfort her during a demonstration one day after the double explosion in Ankara
Precautions: Volunteers search people before letting them enter a square during a commemoration for the victims of Saturday's bomb blasts in the Turkish capital, in Ankara
Never forget: Members of the left-wing Labour Party (EMEP) carry pictures of the victims of Saturday's bomb blasts
No entry: Turkish police block the way to the site of Saturday's explosions in Ankara after insisting that forensics teams were still gathering evidence
Terrifying: Peaceful demonstrators at the pro-Kurdish rally react as the powerful blast goes off behind them
Bloodied: Witnesses described how the blast shook the ground at the road junction near the main train station in the centre of the Turkish capital Ankara
Around 70 mourners were eventually allowed to enter the cordoned off area outside Ankara's main train station - where the explosions occurred - to briefly pay their respects for the victims today.
Thousands of mourners then began to march towards a central square in Ankara, chanting anti-government slogans.
Several demonstrators who blamed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the bombings chanted 'Erdogan murderer' and 'government resign'.
The rally was organised by labour unions, leftist groups, NGOs and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) - the same groups that had called the peace rally targeted in Saturday's attack.
Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said ISIS terrorists or far-left Kurdish extremists could have carried out the attack but no group has yet claimed responsibility for it.
He declared three days of mourning yesterday and said there were 'strong signs' the attack was carried out by two suicide bombers.
Investigators have determined that one of the bombers was a male aged about 25 or 30, according to the Yeni Safak newspaper which is said to be close to the government.
Harrowing footage from yesterday morning showed their relatives holding hands and dancing down the streets of Ankara, but joy turned to terror when the first the blast erupted just metres behind them.
At least 97 are said to have died in the bombing, which is thought to have been an act of terrorism
But some protesters ended up running away from tear gas during clashes with police in Istanbul
Fury: Protesters throw molotov cocktails towards a water cannon during clashes with police at the Gazi district in Istanbul
Escalation: Protesters run away from tear gas during clashes with police as solidarity turned to anger following the terror attacks
Gripped by fear: Protesters run away from riot police just few hours after the deadly attack in Ankara which killed at least 97
Marching on: Thousands of protesters march against the deadly attack earlier in Ankara in Istanbul
Resolute: Demonstrater took to the streets to call for peace after 97 were killed in the bomb blast during a pro-Kurdish rally in the Turkish capital
The explosion tore through the crowd of people, maiming dozens of innocent bystanders and leaving body parts and debris littering the road.
Pictures which emerged shortly afterwards showed torn fragments of flags and banners people had been waving just moments before littering the ground.
Witnesses described how the blasts, which are believed to have been a terror attack, shook the ground around the city's main train station.
Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu initially confirmed that 62 people had been killed outright in the blast and a further 24 people had died in hospital.
The current death toll, which is expected to increase, makes it the third deadliest attack on Europe after the Lockerbie bombings in 1988 and the Madrid train bombs of 2004.
The victims' families faced an agonising wait to identify their bodies at a forensic facility where autopsies were being carried out overnight.
More than 10,000 people marched down the main central avenue in Istanbul to denounce the attacks last night
In an act of solidarity, thousands also took to the streets of Paris, Strasbourg and Marseille in France, as well as in Zurich in Switzerland.
No escape: Activists at the scene have reportedly unearthed ball bearings and other pieces of shrapnel that may have been packed into the explosive
Aftermath: Bodies lie covered on the street following an explosion at the main train station in Turkey's capital Ankara
Agonising: Relatives of the victims of the Ankara train station bombings wait outside the Ankara Forensic Medicine Institute while the autopsies are being performed
Distraught: Co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Figen Yuksekdag (centre) speaks with officials outside the Ankara Forensic Medicine Institute
Mourning: Families of the victims who were killed when two suspected suicide bombers set off two explosions in Ankara yesterday wait outside the Ankara Forensic Medicine Institute
Lost: Relatives face an agonising wait to identify the bodies of the victims of Turkey's deadliest every terror attack
Wounded: Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (wearing tie) and his wife Sare Davutoglu visit a man who was injured in an explosion close to Ankara's main train station
Survivors: These men are among more than 200 who died in yesterday's terror attack in Ankara
Doing well: Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (right) and his wife Sare Davutoglu speak to a man who was wounded in Turkey's deadliest ever terror attack
But police and protesters ended up clashing in the streets of Istanbul, with officers firing tear gas at marchers.
Although the attack has not been claimed by any terror group, the Turkish government suspects that the twin blasts were a terrorist attack.
'We suspect that there is a terrorist connection,' a government official told AFP, asking not to be named.
Activists on the ground have unearthed ball bearings and other pieces of deadly shrapnel in the debris, that may have been packed inside the device.
In the minutes before the blast, demonstrators had begun their march in protest against the conflict between the Turkish state and Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey.
'We heard one huge blast and then one smaller explosion and then there was a great movement and panic. Then we saw corpses around the station,' said witness Ahmet Onen, in floods of tears.
'A demonstration that was to promote peace has turned into a massacre, I don't understand this.'
'This attack resembles and is a continuation of the Diyarbakir and Suruc (attacks),' said Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the Turkey's pro-Kurdish party, 'We are faced with a huge massacre.'
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan called for 'solidarity and determination' in response to the attack.
Desperate situation: Several people try to help an badly injured man shortly after the deadly blast
Tragic scenes: The number of people who killed in the blast is still rising, with at least 97 people now said to have been killed in the blast and 400 injured
'Like other terror attacks, the one at the Ankara train station targets our unity, togetherness, brotherhood and future,' he said.
Senior Turkish official has said the general elections will go ahead as planned on November 1 despite Ankara bombing
In response to the attack, Kurdish rebels have announced a ceasefire against the government until after the elections.
Tensions remain high in the Turkish capital this evening, with reports emerging that Turkish police officers used tear gas and fired into the air to disperse terrified demonstrators just moments after the blast.
Activists were heard chanting the slogan 'police murderers!' at security forces.
An anti-government peace rally had been organised by several leftist groups in the area later in the day, including the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).
'We are faced with a huge massacre. A barbaric attack has been committed,' said the HDP's leader Selahattin Demirtas.
The attack comes on the tail of a months-long wave of unrest that is sweeping the country, ahead of polls on November 1.
Leaders across Europe and the United States have spoken out in condemnation of the savage attack.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond described it as 'barbaric' in messages on social media, pledging the UK's support.
Terrifying: Flags and banners litter the ground shortly after the bomb tore through the packed street
Painful: Shoes and broken glass rest among the twisted metal following the suspected terror attack
Struggling: Shocked demonstrators comfort each other after the devastating blast which left 400 injured
Unimaginable violence: The main function near the train station is a scene of chaos and destruction
Distraught: The bomb attack has been condemned as a 'terrorist' attack by one anonymous official
Tragic day: The blast took place close Ankara's main train station just as the demonstration was starting
On edge: Turkish police officer stand guard shortly after the attack which killed over 97 people
Barbaric: The bloodstained flags of the demonstrators is all that remains from the earlier rally
'Appalled by barbaric attacks in Ankara. My thoughts are with the loved ones of those killed and injured. UK stands with the Turkish people,' he wrote.
The director of Britain's counter-terrorism police unit said British police are providing 'ongoing support' to investigators in Turkey.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, who heads the police counter-terrorism department, said British police are working closely with the Turkish authorities.
He urged anyone in Britain's 'affected' communities who may have information about the attack to contact the police anti-terrorist hotline.
'We are deeply saddened to hear' of the explosions, he said, offering condolences to Turkey and to the substantial Turkish community in Britain.
Ned Price, the U.S. National Security Council spokesman, said: 'The United States condemns in the strongest terms today's horrific terrorist attack in Ankara, Turkey.'
He added: 'The fact that this attack occurred ahead of a planned rally for peace underscores the depravity of those behind it and serves as another reminder of the need to confront shared security challenges in the region.
'We offer our deepest condolences to the families and other loved ones of the victims, just as our thoughts remain with those injured in this senseless violence.
'Like other terror attacks, the one at the Ankara train station targets our unity, togetherness, brotherhood and future,' said President Tayyip Erdogan, calling for 'solidarity and determination'
Struggling: One lady weeps on the streets as people look on at the scenes of devastation
Furious: Turkish Kurdish men shout slogans during a protest, in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, against explosions at the peace march today in Ankara
Rally: Thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration against the deadly Turkish attacks, in Istanbul today
Aftermath: The attack comes with Turkey on edge ahead of November 1 polls and a wave of unrest over the past few months
Shock: In response to the attack, Kurdish rebels have announced a ceasefire against the government until after the elections
'The United States will continue to stand side-by-side with the Turkish Government and people as together we take on the scourge of terrorism. Far from deterring these effort, such horrific acts of violence will only strengthen our resolve.'
German Chancellor Angela Merkel sent her condolences to Prime Minister Davutoglu, calling the attacks 'particularly cowardly acts that were aimed directly at civil rights, democracy and peace'.
'It is an attempt at intimidation and an attempt to spread fear,' she said. 'I am convinced that the Turkish government and all of Turkish society stands together at this time with a response of unity and democracy to this terror.'
About 1,000 people, primarily Kurds, held an impromptu rally in Paris to show support for the victims of the bombing.
Sombrely holding aloft photographs from today's targeted peace rally, the group marched at the expansive Republique plaza in central Paris.
Paris has a large and active Kurdish community.
French President Francois Hollande, meanwhile, offered his condolences to the Turkish people and condemned 'the attack that cost the lives of dozens of protesters in Ankara'.
Source Daily Mail
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