The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s suicide attack on the Turkish Interior Ministry in Ankara.
In a statement released to the media, the PKK disclosed that two of their female fighters, Rojhat Zilan and Erdal Shahin, executed the suicide bombing. “A self-sacrificing attack was carried out against the Turkish Interior Ministry by a team from our Amar Brigade,” the PKK told the ANF news agency, which is close to the Kurdish movement.
The PKK stated that the operation was carried out at 9:30 a.m. local time and was strategically planned to achieve their objective while minimizing civilian casualties.
The group cited the ongoing conflict and alleged war crimes committed by the Turkish forces against the Kurds in the region as the motive behind the attack. References were also made to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Turkish forces against the Kurds.
Post-attack, the PKK accused Turkish authorities of attempting to conceal their losses. The organization attributed the attack to Hulya Demirer, code name “Axin Mus”, a former commander of the Amar Brigade, stating that the sacrifices of Comrades Rojhat Zilan and Erdal Shahin will always be remembered by the Kurdish people and their organization.
The PKK concluded by asserting that their operations against what they refer to as the “occupying enemy” will continue until Kurdistan achieves freedom.