Turkey promises response to suspected IS bombing
Turkey promises response to suspected IS bombing
Turkish prime minister says attack on activists in Suruc is an attack on all Turks, and promises to boost security on border with Syria.
2 min read
A suspected bomb attack killed over 30 people [AFP]
Turkey has stepped up security following yesterday's bomb attack on a Turkish border town that killed 31 Turkish and Kurdish activists.
Outrage spread across Turkey after newspapers printed graphic images of the victims in Suruc. Many of them had planned to cross the border into Syria to help with rebuilding efforts in the Kurdish town of Kobane.
The bombing is suspected to have been carried out by the Islamic State group, which would make it the organisation's first attack in Turkey.
Ankara has promised to respond. "Security on our borders will continue to be increased," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said late Monday. "This attack targets us all."
The bomb targeted a cultural centre in Suruc, which was hosting 300 socialist youth activists.
They were who were due to arrive in Kobane the next day, a town which has been devastated from months of fighting as IS attempted to take it over.
Turkey has long been accused of being reluctant to curb the rise of IS - even colluding with the group - although Ankara vehemently denies the accusations.
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Turkey has always taken measures against [IS] and similar kind of organisations. - Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu |
Its border has been a gateway for men and materiel to IS, which occupy much of northern Syria and Turkey.
"Turkey has always taken measures against [IS] and similar kind of organisations," said Davutoglu. "[IS] threatens not only Syrian people but also Turkey," he added. Reports suggest that Davitoglu will visit Suruc later today.
Deputy Prime Minister Nurman Kurtulmus said there were "big suspicions" over the identity of the bomber and conclusive information would be revealed.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack, saying: "I curse and condemn the perpetrators of this brutality."
Turkey's main aim in the Syria conflict has been the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad and containment of pro-Kurdish groups and.
So far, is yet to play a full role in the coalition against IS, although Ankara has taken a harder line against the group over the past couple of weeks, and rounded up suspected members.
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