The Turkish capital Ankara was rocked by heavy explosions and gunfire on Sunday morning. The government has since stated it was a terrorist attack which took place near the parliament.
Turkey’s Home Affairs Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Twitter just after the incident that a suicide bomber had detonated an explosive device in front of a ministry building in the Turkish capital, which is located near the parliament.
"At around 09:30 (editor's note: 08:30 Belgian time), 2 terrorists travelled in a light commercial vehicle in front of the entrance gate of the General Directorate of Security of the Ministry of Interior and committed a bomb attack," Yerlikaya wrote.
"One of the terrorists detonated himself and the other terrorist was neutralised. During the shooting, two members of our police force were slightly wounded," he said, adding that he wishes the heroes a speedy recovery.
In his statement, he stressed that the country will continue its "relentless efforts" until the last terrorist is neutralised. The attack comes as Turkish authorities have been carrying out operations against members of the terrorist group ISIS.
Turkish media reported that shots were also heard in the neighbourhood around the parliament, where a number of ministries are located. Several police vehicles and ambulances were sent to the area.
The security measures have since been tightened around the parliament building and around the interior ministry building.
According to reports from Al Jazeera, the Turkish Parliament would be resuming on Sunday after its summer break. All parliamentarians, including the president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, were expected to be at the Parliament around 14:00 in the afternoon.
