UPDATES INJURY TOLL FROM 16 TO 33, ADDS QUOTES FROM TURKEY’S FOREIGN, ENERGY MINISTERS
By Erdinc Aksoy
ADANA, Turkey (AA) – Two people were killed and 33 others were injured in a car bomb attack in the parking lot of the governor’s office in southern Turkey’s Adana province early Thursday, the energy minister said.
During his visit to the blast site, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak confirmed the casualty toll and said one of the injured was in “serious condition”.
Earlier, speaking at the 7th Turkey Energy Summit that began in Adana Thursday, Albayrak pointed out the hand of “puppeteers” in the attack.
“You are mistaken if you think that you will scare and discourage this nation with traditional methods or distract it,” he said, adding the attacks would not constrain Turkey from going ahead with its direction.
Before the energy minister’s remarks, Adana Governor Mahmut Demirtas told Anadolu Agency the car had exploded at 8.05 a.m. [0605 GMT] in the parking lot close to the office entrance.
“It is suspected that a female carried out the attack,” Demirtas said, adding the license plate of the suspect’s car had been identified.
Several ambulances and police teams had rushed towards the area, while a police helicopter also hovered above.
Nearby vehicles and the governor’s building had also been damaged in the incident.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident. A man, who worked at the parking lot, was taken to a police station for questioning, a police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.
Meanwhile, the Prime Ministry imposed a temporary broadcast ban on the blast, the Supreme Board of Radio and Television announced.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim was informed about the blast by ministers, according to a Prime Ministry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.
About the incident, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus tweeted: “I condemn the treacherous attack in Adana, and curse terror and its supporters.”
Kurtulmus said Turkey would “resolutely” continue to fight against terrorism and would not “surrender” to terrorism.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also tweeted: “Terrorists and collaborators targeted our tranquility in Adana. I wish God’s mercy upon our citizens who lost their lives in this atrocious attack.”
Turkey’s EU Minister Omer Celik also tweeted: “Cursed terror continues to target our people. We will till the end struggle against this terror for humanity.”
Celik wished a “speedy” recovery to the injured people.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, called the governor and condemned the “treacherous” attack, according a written statement from the party.
Diyar Guldogan contributed to this story from Ankara
