Roundup: Findings suggest PKK behind deadly bombing attack in Turkey's capital

The investigation into Sunday's deadly bombing attack in Turkey's capital Ankara has presented more details suggesting that the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) militant group was behind the blast.

Turkish Interior Ministry stated that one of the suspected bombers, identified as 24-year-old Seher Cagla Demir, was trained in Syria by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.

The DNA and fingerprint evidence have confirmed the identities of two suspects, according to local media reports.

Investigators have determined that a sedan loaded with some 300 kg of explosive mixture of TNT, RDX, and ammonium nitrate was used, the state-run Anatolian news agency reported.

The surveillance footage from street cameras, recorded before the attack, also revealed that Demir and another suspect named as Ozgur Unsal were seated in the car.

Turkish police is also looking at a third suspect, investigating a possibility that the car might have blown up with a remote detonator by a third person scouting from the distance.

The attack, which took place near bus and subway stations in the downtown Ankara, where the government buildings are located, killed 37 people and wounded more than 100 others.

On Wednesday, The Ministry of Health issued a statement saying that 32 wounded citizens are still being treated in area hospitals with 10 remaining in critical condition.

ERDOGAN WANTS STRONG ACTION

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Wednesday that the state will wipe out the terrorism and pledged the security forces will go into their lairs if necessary to take the terrorists out.

"The iron fist (of the state) under the velvet glove will pound their (PKK militants') heads. Terrorists must be confronted without giving in any concessions whatsoever," he underlined.

The president also repeated his earlier call on redefining terror laws in the parliament to include labeling propaganda as a terror act itself.

On Tuesday night, three Turkish academics were arrested in Istanbul for making terrorist propaganda after reading a petition that called for an end to clashes between the security forces and PKK militants.

A total of 47 suspects have so far been detained in connection with Ankara bomb attack, while the police are searching for 10 others.

In sweeping security operations against the PKK across the country, 320 suspects were detained by the police and 41 were arrested by the courts in various provinces in the last three days.

The PKK, which has been waging a separatist war against Turkey since 1984, is listed as terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

The lead suspected bomber Demir was being tried for being a PKK member and promoting the terrorist organization in western Balikesir province while her suspected accomplice Unsal had a police record on drug charges.

PKK UNOFFICIALLY ACCEPTED ITS ROLE

The PKK has not publicly claimed the attack but senior figure Mustafa Karasu claimed the target was the riot police near the blast site.

Karasu, writing under his pen name in Ozgur Gundem daily which is seen as closely affiliated with the PKK, warned that the conflict will escalate further.

Ankara Prosecutor's Office obtained a warrant from the court authorizing the police to collect all copies of the daily in connection with terrorism.

The main suspect in the bombing attack is the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), considered to be a sort of the PKK's special forces.

TAK also claimed last month's bombing attack that killed 29 people, mostly members of Turkish military, in the Turkish capital Ankara.

According to terror expert Suat Oren who works for Ankara-based Research Center for Security Strategies (Gusam), TAK is not a separate organization but rather a label used by the PKK to assume liability for sensational terror acts.

"TAK is just a shadow under the PKK," he said.

OPPOSITION TURNS UP HEAT

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has ratcheted up its criticism of the government on handling of surge in terror incidents.

The CHP Deputy Chairman and Spokeswoman Selin Sayek Boke announced on Wednesday her party's four-point proposal to tackle with terrorism in the country.

She emphasized that the Turkish foreign policy must change the course for 180 degree, especially on Syria, adding that the Parliament must be called up for an action to deal with the terror.

She also asked the government to sack Interior Minister Efkan Ala for his failure to prevent the attack and make appointments in security and intelligence apparatus on merit basis rather than with partisan approach. Endit