2007 Ankara bombing

Kurdish militant suicide bombing in Ankara, Turkey

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2007 Ankara suicide bombing

Part of the Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)
Location| Ankara, Turkey
Date| 22 May 2007
17:20 – ? (UTC+2)
Target| Shopping centre

Attack type

| Suicide bombing
Deaths| 9[1][2][3][4]
Injured| 121[1]
Perpetrators| Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK)[5]

* v
* t
* e

Kurdish–Turkish conflict

Timeline

* * *

First insurgency

* 1984
* Karageçit
* N Iraq (1986)
* Ortabağ
* N Iraq (1987)
* Pınarcık
* Yeşilova
* Taşdelen
* Şırnak
* Kulp
* N Iraq (1992)
* Bingöl
* Başbağlar
* Lice
* Winter campaign
* Steel
* Tokat
* Hawk
* Tunceli
* Varto
* Sazak
* Hammer
* Dawn
* Murat
* Istanbul
* Blue Market

Second insurgency

* Hakkâri (2007)
* N Iraq (2007)
* Ankara
* Aktütün
* Diyarbakır
* Sun
* Reşadiye
* İskenderun
* Hakkâri
* Istanbul
* 2011 border raid
* Hakkâri (2011)
* Roboski
* Hakkâri (2012)
* Beytüşşebap
* Şemdinli

Third insurgency

* Ceylanpınar
* Siirt bombing
* Martyr Yalçın
* Police raids
* Arslan Kulaksız
* Şırnak
* Cizre (2015)
* Cizre (2016)
* Kandil
* Hakkari
* Silvan
* Sur
* Lice
* Dürümlü
* 2015 airport bombing
* Ankara (Feb 2016)
* Ankara (Mar 2016)
* Bursa
* Istanbul (Jun 2016)
* Istanbul (Oct 2016)
* Istanbul (Dec 2016)
* N Iraq (2016)
* Elazığ
* Cizre
* Euphrates Shield
* Şemdinli
* Kayseri
* İzmir
* Airstrikes in Syria & Iraq
* Olive Branch
* Siirt raid
* Sinjar (2018)
* Gercüş
* Claw
* Peace Spring
* Claw-Eagle & Claw-Tiger
* İskenderun
* Claw-Eagle 2
* Claw-Lightning & Thunderbolt
* Sinjar (2021)
* Claw-Lock
* Zakho
* Istanbul (2022)
* Claw-Sword
* Syria (2023 June)
* Ankara (2023)
* Syria (2023 Oct)

* * *

Serhildan

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1999
* 2001
* 2005
* 2006
* 2008
* 2009
* 2011–2012
* 2014

* * *

Peace process and peace efforts

* 1991–2004 Kurdish–Turkish peace initiatives
* 1993 Kurdistan Workers' Party ceasefire
* 2013–2015 Solution process

* * *

Others

* Assassinations

Suicide attacks in
Turkey

Aftermath of the Suruç bombing in 2015

Groups responsible

* Al-Qaeda
* Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

* Kurdistan Freedom Hawks
* Kurdistan Workers' Party

* Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front

Attacks

* Tunceli
* Istanbul (1st)
* Istanbul (2nd)

* Istanbul (3rd)
* Istanbul (4th)
* Ankara

* Istanbul (5th)
* Istanbul (6th)

* Şanlıurfa
* Ankara (2nd)
* Istanbul (7th)

* Ankara (3rd)
* Ankara (4th)
* Istanbul (8th)

* Bursa
* Gaziantep
* Istanbul (9th)

* Istanbul (10th)
* Elazığ
* Gaziantep (2nd)

* Şırnak
* Hakkari
* Diyarbakır

* Istanbul (11th)
* Kayseri
* Hatay

* Ankara (5th)

* v
* t
* e

The 2007 Ankara bombing was a suicide attack that occurred in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, on 22 May 2007. Six people were reported killed, including one of Pakistani origin, and 121 people were wounded.[1][6][7][8] A seventh person died from his injuries on 7 June and another on 17 June raising the death toll to eight.[2][3] A ninth person died on 4 July from his injuries.[4]

## The attack[edit]

The explosion occurred outside a shopping centre in the Ulus quarter of Ankara. The police reports suggested a "suicide bombing".[9] A type A4 bomb has been reported as being the cause of the explosion and the "Terror and Organised Crime Unit" (Turkish: Terör ve Organize Suçlar) has taken over the investigation.[10] The explosion shattered windows of the shopping centre and of nearby buildings creating havoc.[11] The Ankara bombing came as more than 35 world leaders, including the U.S. President, were in Istanbul for a NATO summit that began on Monday, which left tensions high as numerous other incidents have occurred in the run-up to the meeting.[12] It also heightened political tensions between the secular and non-secular parties of Turkey, as both fight for public support and leadership of the nation.[13] The timing of the bombing raised assassination suspicions since General Yaşar Büyükanıt (Chief of the General Staff), General İlker Başbuğ (Commander of the Army), General Işık Koşaner (Commander of the Gendarmerie), General Faruk Cömert (Commander of the Air Force), and Admiral Yener Karahanoğlu (Commander of the Navy) were to attend the IDEF Defense Fair same day held at the Anatolian Civilizations Museum (Turkish: Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi) crossing the blast zone.[14]

The suicide bomber was later identified as Güven Akkuş. Circumstances regarding the explosion of Akkuş's explosives remains unclear. The police has three competing theories:

1. While moving towards the target suicide bomber Akkuş panicked when a squad car coincidentally stopped in front of him, leading him to detonate his explosive.
2. Type A-4 explosives are sensitive to body temperature so it is possible that the explosives self-detonated while Akkuş and a collaborator only identified by her code name "Ayşe" panicked after the encounter with the squad car.
3. Collaborator "Ayşe" detonated Akkuş's explosives remotely when Akkuş panicked.

Collaborator "Ayşe" is known to have visited a hospital briefly after the bombing and is currently at large.[15]

The attack was claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK). Turkish government claims TAK is part of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) but PKK denies this.[5]

## See also[edit]

* 2015 Ankara bombings

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Bombalı saldırıda sürpriz tanık" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Archived from the original on 4 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
2. ^ a b "Anafartalar saldırısında ölü sayısı 7'ye yükseldi" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-08.
3. ^ a b "8'inci kurban" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Archived from the original on 21 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
4. ^ a b "Anafartalar'da ölü sayısı 9'a çıktı" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
5. ^ a b "我的站点". Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
6. ^ "Vali açıkladı: Canlı bomba" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Archived from the original on 25 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
7. ^ "Ankara'da patlama FLAŞ" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
8. ^ "Görgü tanığı: 10 ölü var" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
9. ^ "Explosion rocks Turkish capital". BBC. 2007-05-22. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
10. ^ "Bombanın cinsi A4" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
11. ^ http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4825650.html [dead link]
12. ^ "Explosion in Ankara not a bomb". Television New Zealand. 29 June 2004. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
13. ^ Reuters AlertNet - Bomb in Turkish capital kills six, injures 80
14. ^ "Korkunç şüphe: Hedef Komutan mıydı?" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
15. ^ "Polis, Ayşe'nin peşinde!" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. Archived from the original on 3 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-02.

* v
* t
* e

Terrorist incidents in Ankara, Turkey

* 1982 (Esenboğa Airport)
* 2007 (shopping center, Ulus)
* 2011 (Kizilay)
* 2013 (U.S. embassy)
* 2015 (peace rally, near railway station)
* February 2016 (Çankaya)
* March 2016 (Kızılay)
* 2023 (interior ministry)

* v
* t
* e

Kurdish–Turkish conflict (1978–present)

* Timeline
* Map

Turkey|

| State|

* Government
* National Security Council
* Military
* Army
* Air Force
* Navy
* Gendarmerie
* Coast Guard
* Police
* MİT
* Village Guards

|

Deep state|

* Counter-Guerrilla
* Grey Wolves
* Turkish Revenge Brigade
* Susurluk scandal
* Ergenekon
* JİTEM

Kurdish groups|

| Insurgent|

* KCK
* PKK
* History
* People's Defence Forces (HPG)
* Free Women's Units (YJA-STAR)
* National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK)
* Liberation Forces OF Kurdistan (HRK)
* People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan (ARGK)
* Democratic People's Union of Kurdish (YDK)
* Democratic Society Coordination of Kurdistan (CDK)
* Free Women's Union of Kurdistan (YAJK)
* Workers' Women Party of Kurdistan (PJKK)
* Free Women Party (PJA)
* Free Women's Party of Kurdistan (PAJK)
* Women's Liberation Movement of Kurdistan (KJB)
* Freedom and Democracy Congress of Kurdistan (KADEK)
* People's Congress (Kongra-Gel)
* Confederation Community of Kurdistan (KKK)
* Revolutionary Party of Kurdistan (PŞK)
* Workers Vanguard Party of Kurdistan (PPKK)
* TAK
* KDP/N
* PJAK
* KKP
* Free Youth Movement of Kurdistan (TECAK)
* Marxist–Leninist Communist Party (MLKP)
* Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H)
* PIK
* HİK
* KH (Hüda-Par)

|

Allies|

* DHP
* TDP
* ASALA (until the late 1980s)

Political|

* HEP (1990–1993)
* DEP (1993–1994)
* HADEP (1994–2003)
* DEHAP (1997–2005)
* DTH (2005)
* DTP (2005–2009)
* BDP (2008–2014)
* HDP (2012–present)
* DBP (2014–present)
* DEM (2023–present)

The conflict|

| 1974–1984|

* Political violence in Turkey (1976–1980)
* Maraş massacre
* 1980 Turkish coup d'état

|

1984–1999|

* 1984 PKK attacks
* Karageçit
* August 1986 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* Ortabağ
* March 1987 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* Pınarcık massacre
* Yeşilova incident
* Battle of Şırnak
* 1992 Taşdelen attack
* Battle of Kulp
* Operation Northern Iraq
* May 24, 1993 PKK attack
* Başbağlar massacre
* Lice massacre
* Winter Campaign of 1994–1995
* Operation Steel
* Operation Hawk
* Operation Tokat
* 1996 Tunceli bombing
* Siege of Varto
* Sazak assault
* Operation Hammer
* Operation Dawn
* Operation Murat
* 1999 Istanbul bombings
* Blue Market massacre

1999–2004|

2000 Turkish Hezbollah crackdown

2004–2012|

* 2005 Kuşadası minibus bombing
* 2007 Ankara bombing
* October 2007 clashes in Hakkâri
* December 2007 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* 2008 Diyarbakır bombing
* 2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* 2008 Istanbul bombings
* October 2008 Aktütün attack
* Reşadiye shooting
* 2010 İskenderun attack
* 2010 Hakkâri bus bombing
* 2010 Istanbul bombing
* August 2011 Turkey–Iraq cross-border raids
* 2011 Hakkâri attack
* Roboski massacre
* June–August 2012 Hakkari clashes
* 2012 Gaziantep bombing
* September 2012 Beytüşşebap attack

2015–present|

* 2015 Siirt bombing
* Operation Martyr Yalçın
* 2015 Hakkari assault
* Siege of Silvan (2015)
* Şırnak clashes (2015–2016)
* Siege of Sur (2016)
* February 2016 Lice bombing
* February 2016 Ankara bombing
* March 2016 Ankara bombing
* March 2016 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq
* 2016 Bursa bombing
* May 2016 Dürümlü bombing
* May 2016 Diyarbakır bombing
* 2016 Cizre bombing
* 2016 Elazığ bombing
* Assassination of Deryan Aktert
* December 2016 Istanbul bombings
* 2017 Diyarbakır bombing
* Turkish airstrikes on Sinjar (2018)
* 2018 Siirt raid
* 2018 Gercüş bombing
* 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria
* 2020 İskenderun shootout
* Operation Claw-Eagle 2
* Operation Claw-Lock
* Zakho resort attack
* 2022 Mersin attack
* Operation Claw-Sword
* 2023 Ankara bombing
* October 2023 Northeastern Syria clashes

Protests|

| Serhildan|

* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1999
* 2001
* 2005
* 2006
* 2008
* 2009
* 2011–2012
* 2014

|

Others|

* Mothers of Diyarbakır

Peace process
and peace efforts|

* 1991–2004 Kurdish–Turkish peace initiatives
* 2013–2015 Solution process
* 1993 Kurdistan Workers' Party ceasefire
* Musa Anter peace train
* 2009–2010 Kurdistan Workers' Party ceasefire

Kurdish leaders|

| Insurgent|

* Abdullah Öcalan
* Murat Karayılan
* Cemîl Bayik
* Bahoz Erdal
* Mustafa Karasu
* Duran Kalkan
* Haji Ahmadi
* Osman Öcalan
* Mahsum Korkmaz
* Şemdin Sakık
* Nizamettin Taş
* Mazlum Doğan
* Muhammad Mustafa
* Hüseyin Velioğlu
* Celal Başkale
* İsmail Özden

|

Political|

* Ahmet Fehmi Işıklar
* Yaşar Kaya
* Leyla Zana
* Hatip Dicle
* Orhan Doğan
* Ahmet Türk
* Murat Bozlak
* Tuncer Bakırhan
* Aysel Tuğluk
* Selahattin Demirtaş
* Nurettin Demirtaş
* Ayla Akat Ata
* Gültan Kışanak
* Pervin Buldan
* Emine Ayna
* Sebahat Tuncel
* Kemal Burkay
* Fatma Kurtulan
* Osman Baydemir
* Sırrı Süreyya Önder

Turkish leaders|

| Military|

* Kenan Evren
* Tahsin Şahinkaya
* Bülend Ulusu
* Nurettin Ersin
* Necdet Üruğ
* Necip Torumtay
* Eşref Bitlis
* Doğan Güreş
* İsmail Hakkı Karadayı
* Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu
* Hilmi Özkök
* İbrahim Fırtına
* Faruk Cömert
* Yaşar Büyükanıt
* Aydoğan Babaoğlu
* İlker Başbuğ
* Işık Koşaner
* Erdal Ceylanoğlu
* Necdet Özel
* Hayri Kıvrıkoğlu

|

Political|

* Turgut Özal
* Süleyman Demirel
* Bülent Ecevit
* Ali Bozer
* Yıldırım Akbulut
* Mesut Yılmaz
* Erdal İnönü
* Tansu Çiller
* Mesut Yılmaz
* Necmettin Erbakan
* Ahmet Necdet Sezer
* Abdullah Gül
* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
* Süleyman Soylu

See also|

| Memorials, monuments
and military cemeteries|

* 33 Martyrs Memorial
* Düzce Military Cemetery
* Monument of the Martyrs of Internal Security

|

Other|

* Iraqi–Kurdish conflict
* Kurdish separatism in Iran
* Rojava conflict
* Kurdish rebellions in Turkey
* Kurdish refugees
* Human rights of Kurdish people in Turkey
* Kurdish villages depopulated by Turkey
* Turkish war crimes
* Iraq operations

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