A suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the U.S. Embassy building in Ankara, Turkey, Friday. The attacker has been confirmed as belonging to a radical leftist group.
A Turkish security guard was killed in the blast, in addition to the bomber.
The bomber detonated the device at 1: 15 p.m., and has been identified as Ecevit Shanli, a member of the Marxist anti-Western splinter terror group known as DHKP-C. The group stands against the Turkish regime believing that it “is a fascist regime controlled by the domineering, imperialist forces of the West especially the United State and NATO.”
White House spokesperson Jay Carney called the incident an “act of terror.”
According to senior U.S. officials, no Americans were harmed.
The blast comes on the last day of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s tenure. For the last few months Clinton’s job has been marred by increased fear for security at U.S. foreign locations, since the bombing of a U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. “Coming after Benghazi, it underscores the need for a comprehensive review of security at our diplomatic posts,” Rep. Ed Royce, Republican chairman of the House of Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement.
Clinton announced that the department is taking steps to conduct a full investigation on the Turkey attack. “We are working closely with the Turkish national police to make a full assessment of the damage and the casualties, and to begin an investigation,” Clinton said.
Sen. John Kerry has been confirmed as Clinton’s replacement.
—
Photo: Burhan Ozbioli/Yafuz Ozden
