At least 13 killed as car bomb blast hits bus carrying soldiers in Turkey

At least 13 soldiers have been killed and 55 wounded in a car bomb attack on a bus carrying off-duty troops in Turkey. The Turkish authorities imposed a temporary news blackout following the explosion in the central city of Kayseri, which also injured civilians. Images from the scene showed the smouldering wreck of the bus. The personnel had been going on a weekend shopping trip to the local market when a vehicle packed with explosives detonated as the bus went by. Six of those hurt are described as being in a critical condition.

They should know that they will not get away with it…They will pay a heavier price.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The country’s deputy prime minister Veysi Kaynak blamed “treacherous factions” for the outrage, which he said had targeted commandos from the Kayseri Airforce Brigade. Mr Kaynak said the attack was “unfortunately similar” to last week’s twin bombing outside a football stadium in Istanbul, which killed more than 40 people and wounded more than 100. That attack, claimed by Kurdish militants, led President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to vow Ankara would “fight the scourge of terrorism right to the end”. Following the Kayseri explosion, the government urged the media to refrain from publishing anything that may cause “fear in the public, panic and disorder and which may serve the aims of terrorist organisations”.

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