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Subscribe to RSSA suicide bomber blew himself up at an entrance to the U.S. Embassy compound in Ankara, Turkey, on Friday. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
A suicide bomber blew himself up at an entrance to the U.S. Embassy compound in Ankara, Turkey, on Friday, officials said.
U.S. State Department and Turkish interior ministry officials said the bomber and a Turkish guard were killed in the attack, which took place about 1:15 p.m. local time (6:15 a.m. ET).
"Clearly, it’s a terrorist attack," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a media briefing, adding that the U.S. condemns the hit in strong terms.
The bomber, who was wearing a suicide vest, made it to the first X-ray machine in a screening area leading to the visa section, police sources said, and then detonated the device.
The Turkish security guard standing nearby was killed, but two guards on the other side of the checkpoint, behind bulletproof glass, survived. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, sources had said three people were thought to have been killed.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the bomber was a member of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front, or DHKPC, a far-left group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
That group, started in the late 1970s, "has periodically targeted both Turkish officials and been virulently anti-U.S. and anti-NATO during the Gulf War and continuing to today," Michael Leiter, former director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, said in an interview with NBC News.
"During the past several months Turkish officials have targeted the DHKPC and it is possible that this was in retaliation for those police raids," he said, adding that the group's reach was believed to be limited to Turkey and the immediate region.
There was, however, no claim of responsibility.
Nuland said a Turkish citizen was hurt and is in "serious condition." Reuters reported this victim was Didem Tuncay, a journalist on her way in to the embassy to meet U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone. Several U.S. and Turkish staff members were hit by flying debris and treated at the scene.
"We're very sad of course that we lost one of our Turkish guards at the gate," Ricciardone said, according to Reuters, thanking Turkish authorities for their response.
Turkish television footage taken shortly after the attack showed smoke rising from the area and a heavily damaged door that led to a side street.
A suicide bomber blew himself up at an entrance to the embassy compound in Ankara.
Turkish media reports identified the bomber as Ecevit Sanli. Reuters said Sanli was previously involved in attacks on a police station and a military staff college in Istanbul in 1997.
Nuland said the attack happened on an external perimeter access site whose level of security protection ensured that the strike wasn't worse.
The White House said Friday it was not yet clear who was responsible for the bombing.
"The attack itself was clearly an act of terror," Jay Carney, White House spokesman, said in a briefing with reporters.
The State Department said the U.S. will cooperate with the Turkish side on the investigation into the attack.
Erdogan, who was attending a ceremony in Istanbul when the blast happened, said the attack "shows that we need to fight together everywhere in the world against these terrorist elements."
In an emergency message Friday, the State Department said Americans were "advised to not visit the Consulates in Istanbul, Adana or the Embassy in Ankara until further notice."
"The Department of State advises U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Turkey to be alert to the potential for violence, to avoid those areas where disturbances have occurred, and to avoid demonstrations and large gatherings," the message said.
In Berlin on Friday, Vice President Joe Biden said that he appreciated an "expression of sympathy" over the attack from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying it reinforced the "very close counterterrorism cooperation that exists between Germany and the United States."
On Sept. 11 last year, U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, prompting concern about security for diplomats.
On Jan. 23, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that she took responsibility for not adequately protecting U.S. personnel in Benghazi. Her voice choked with emotion as she remembered the return of "flag-draped caskets" and putting her arms around relatives of those who died.
Nuland said on Friday that after Benghazi, every U.S. post in the world reviewed its security. She added that the embassy in Ankara is one of the posts due for a complete compound overhaul. The building housing the embassy was built in the 1950s and needs a full upgrade, Nuland said.
Homegrown Islamic militants tied to al-Qaida have carried out suicide bombings in Istanbul, killing 58, in 2003. The targets were the British consulate, a British bank and two synagogues.
In 2008, an attack blamed on al-Qaida-affiliated militants outside the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul left three assailants and three policemen dead.
In the November 2003 attack on the British consulate, a suspected Islamic militant rammed an explosive-laden pickup truck into the main gate, killing British Consul-General, Roger Short, and his assistant, Lisa Hallworth.
The State Department says on its website that 15 people who claimed they were associated with al-Qaida were arrested in July 2011 for gathering explosive materials in preparation for an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.
Mehmet Ali Ozcan / EPA
Turkish police secure the area after an explosion at an entrance to the U.S. Embassy compound in Ankara Friday.
It added that the July plot and other incidents "show a willingness on the part of some terrorist groups to attack identifiably Western targets. The possibility of terrorist attacks, from both transnational and indigenous groups, remains high."
The State Department says the PKK Kurdish rebel group is the "most active terrorist organization in Turkey." It said the PKK had historically targeted Turkish government and military interests, but had recently "threatened increased violent activity in Turkey’s urban areas, and there is credible information suggesting that it intends to continue targeting tourist areas as well."
Earlier this month, about 400 U.S. personnel arrived at Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base to support the deployment of a NATO Patriot missile battery to help defend the country from possible incursions by Syria’s forces during that country’s ongoing civil war.
Reuters, The Associated Press and NBC News Staff Writers Kari Huus, Alastair Jamieson and Becky Bratu contributed to this report.
Related:
From April 2011: US ally Turkey flirts with Mideast's 'bad boys'
After decades of oppression, Kurds get taste of freedom as Assad's troops flee
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Terrorist, I thought this word was no longer allowed in the English language let alone use by MNSN did they misprint? I’m sure this was just an old boiler that blew?
Time bring our people home, close our Embassies in these countries, and let them just kill each other off. We are putting ourselves deeper in debt for these countries who don't give a rat's a$$ about us, hate us, want to kill us. If we're going to keep adding to the debt, lets do it to fix our own country; our infrastructure, our schools, our own crime filled cities!!
LifeLongPackerFan--what on earth makes you think that Muslim terrorists would stop bombing the US and its holdings/possessions just because we get out? The US has become the scape goat, and is such an easy target because we have so much more than most Arab/Muslim countries.
And BTW--are you ok with letting terrorists just wipe Israel off the face of the earth?
How about ENGLAND? Or the rest of northern Europe, which is rapidly becoming over-populated with Muslims? Time Mag ran an article a couple of years ago that said in the next generation, ifthe Muslims in Europe continue to out 'breed' the native populations, and continue to immigrate (legally AND ILLEGALLY--yup--Europe ALSO has a problem with illegal immigrants) the whole continent will be MUSLIM controlled.
So, will we just quit trading with all of Europe?
India too has a fast growing population of Muslims--which (so far, are being kept up with by the Hindu's overbreeding) is another powder Keg.
Damned if we do, Damned if we don't.
What difference, at this point, does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, senator.
Looks like you failed, Madame Secretary!!!
You don't say much Gramma but when you do, it is to the point and I salute you for it.
well one bright spot theres one less muslim fanatical piece of shhitt in this world wished they'd all blow themselves up they are son's of satan anyway
Man these things are happening as much as hand gun incidences, I wonder if their connected?
"NO COMMENT" should be the only thing the White House has to say about this!! Let the Republicans talk about it all they want -
Yep most people can't admit a mistake,you know, like your vote!
This event is likely not to be found undertaken by a lone suicide bomber but will likely be traced to Iran - or some other militant group sponsored by them - who are angry about the Israeli air strike on a Syrian weapons convey and national weapons depot. Hey, I watch Homeland.
Jeez, people are crazy in this world. Why? Why do people apparently hate America? Do they hate me and my family? My neighbors? If they knew us...doubtful.
So what is it?
Government? hmm
TJ, have you ever lived overseas ? The majority of the people love America and Americans, now there are places in the world where that is not true ie: islamic theocracies, but even in those countries you will find that the US is still the envy of the world. So the sky is not falling !!
TJefferson--Why do people hate America? You and your family? Your neighbors?
Because we have so much, and they have so little. Like it or not, it is primarily (if subconsciously) based on Jealousy.
Makes you think about the Americans who think it should be ok to TAKE AWAY what others have that they don't, huh?
You know, like thinking it is ok for a non-income taxpayer to expect a wealthy person to pay over 60% of their income in taxes?
There will always be 'haves' and 'have-nots'--like it or not, we were NOT 'created equal', and some people have more talent/drive/brains than others.Some are more lucky.
But it is JUST as greedy to want what someone else has as it is for them to want to keep it.
Probably the suicide folk was excited that Al Gore sold current TV to Al Jazeera (Oil rich Qatar based) .
Welcome aboard Senator Kerry...
Derka derka!
Im sure this wasnt terrorism it was somone mad because of the Cocacola superbowl ad. Ask obama he will agree.
You are right. I bet we will hear that this was done because people were not allowed to vote for the Arab and the Camel in the Coke ad. I am sure it makes sense to Obama, Biden, and Clinton. I suppose they will meet the coffins coming in with tears in their eyes to show their concern.
At least get educated about the difference between ethnicity and religion. The Cocacola ad was about ARABS.
Turks are NOT Arabs.
Clinton blasts Benghazi questioners. They gave her a pass. Why didn't they ask her about the video she blamed?
They gave her a pass. For that her questioners should get criticized.
We all prefer the good ol days when W read a children's book as 4 passenger jets were hijacked and flown to oblivion, the WTC came crashing down, Bin Laden was allowed to escape, Colin Powell lied to the United Nations to get us into the Iraq War, and Condy Rice played 'rope a dope' with the 9-11 commission.
That was real leadership... Bush / Cheney style!
You are half right. Colin Powell did twist the facts. So did Cheney and Bush. Should not have been reelected. But, it was Bill Clinton who passed on the chance to take out OBL, not Bush. Bush wanted him Dead or Alive. Didn't find him. Fortunately water boarding works, and Obama was able to take advantage of that.
The Big O's think tank better come up with better ways to protect our embassies. Maybe the xray machines might be set a ways from the entrances. Then again, terrorists seem to always find a way to circumvent barriers. ICE at our international borders have K9 corps that check autos before entering the U.S.
We all prefer the good ol days when W read a children's book as 4 passenger jets were hijacked and flown to oblivion, the WTC came crashing down, Bin Laden was allowed to escape, Colin Powell lied to the United Nations to get us into the Iraq War, and Condy Rice played 'rope a dope' with the 9-11 commission.
That was real leadership... Bush / Cheney style!
Here we go, "It's ALL Obama's fault." I mean @!$%#, ask any rightist EVERYTHING is his fault.
The very idea that this is some how Obama's fault is obscene at best.
I just really wish some people that the vision to look past their own noses and were able to look at a situation for what it is instead of seeing red everywhere.
Seriously, I my own things to do and worry about, I don't have the time and energy to spread so much unadulterated hate about anyone or anything.
Well, obviously the American image is pretty bleak in those parts of the world. Why? Is it your family or my family? I our image and the views and beliefs of people in those foreign lands are probably shaped strongly by media and governments...and have been for a long, long time.
when obama stands up and takes blame for his screw ups instead of blaming someone or something else then we might have a starting of a president but it wont happen. he loves to turn it around.
Be acctable...So who's fault is it? Bush's?...Who's sitting in the white house?...Oh my, its nobama! surprise surprise...
So if you have so many important things to do does that mean we won't see your idiotic posts anymore...i doubt it.
I blame 51% of the voters.
The sad part is these small minded people's view can't be changed no matter what - of course no Embassy or American lives were lost when "their" party was in office - Nope, it was all the "other parties" fault - they will always somehow find it's the other's fault and arm-chair decisions. What they really need to do is go back to their caves and continue to draw their pictures on the walls. Maybe someday they will learn what they are taught in their religious classes, but in the meantime they will feel better because other cave-dwellers who agree with the on here, give them support - instead of trying to make the world better they will spew hate because that's all they can do. Someone wrote why would the world hate their family? All they have to do is read the vitriol, bigotry, and racism, because the person they didn't vote for is in office and the majority of Americans don't agree with them and their small minds.
Isn't it reasonable to think, family to family, your family would be loved around the world and could enjoy dinner with another family from across the globe? If the world knew your American family, the world would surely have a favorable view, right?
But, do you feel hated? Why? Does our government create an image for us?
Governments start wars, not people.
well lets see. a lone suicide bomber gets stopped at the first x-ray machine and blows himself up. probably killing the tech running the machine, security guard, and possibly aan embassy security officer or Marine. how do you guard against a lone gun man willing to die to accomplish their mission. answer: you can't. it wasn't a dozen, or a guy driving a truck, just one person and bang. bomber and three others dead. sorry for the innocents but something you can't stop without closing all foreign embassies and consulates. as for the bin-Laden killing, yes it was a live feed from the team to the situation room in the white house and other places.
Yes, kind of like how gun control will not stop a maniac from shooting people at a mall or a school. You cannot stop it. But, of course, it is much more fun for the liberals to control other peoples' lives.
Its 3 a.m. and the phone rings?.....another ball dropped by the nobama administration...We can't afford security for our embassies, but we can spend milions on a second inaugeration ball....
Oh I am sure this will be the Republican controlled House's fault because they did not hand over billions for Obama to spend on security. Never mind the fact that if they needed money for security of embassies they could have "earmarked" it or at least requested it in a budget.
Larry,
Every Sec of State since the Iranian embassy takeover has begged for more money to improve security. With few, rare exceptions, they've been told to pound sand. An earmark would naturally result in an accusation of pork barrelling, or cronyism. Every president appoints his cronies as ambassadors.
Republican or Democrat, it's the House's fault.
We all prefer the good ol days when W read a children's book as 4 passenger jets were hijacked and flown to oblivion, the WTC came crashing down, Bin Laden was allowed to escape, Colin Powell lied to the United Nations to get us into the Iraq War, and Condy Rice played 'rope a dope' with the 9-11 commission.
That was real leadership... Bush / Cheney style!
Oh good, another false flag attack. *rolls eyes* You're not even trying anymore, are you, globalists?
That's it! If people are going to make bombs out of themselves then we must outlaw people plain and simple.
yes thats the libtards answer -outlaw it.
Damn Lego's!
repeat after hillary-what does it matter!spoken like a true c u next tuesday.your right hillary all your witnesses are dead........
BUT more important breaking news just hit....the DOW hit 14,000........priorities priorities........
And that's due to a false bubble formed by a huge surge of printed money. It'll pop in a few months, and the complete collapse will begin.
Amazing how many of you make this out to be Hilary's or Obama's fault, but not 9/11. That was, of course, Bill Clinton's fault. Clearly the important thing is to blame some Democrat. Blaming homicidal maniacs (phsycho killers, serial killers, whatever the current term is) who in turn blame God for their crimes isn't permitted.
Never blame the GOP, even though both Cheney & Rove sent memos to American intelligence services to avoid investigating our "friends & allies" the Saudi Arabians, right up to 09/10/01. And especially don't blame the wealthy, even though they continue to send billions of our dollars to middle east oil depots, & their pet terrorists.
You bias is showing.
And there it is. Every bad thing that happens must be some Democrat's fault. You would think the son of Bandar Bush (the Saud family's nickname for George Sr) would get a head's up from our "friends & allies". After all, Al Qaeda is Saudi Arabia's guerrilla force.
Could you be more biased?
@Musician666... Yeah, like Bush didn't take his share of the blame for 9/11. A lot of ridicule he had to take not to mention the truthers who actually make the birthers look smart. Talk about bias. Reading your post wreaks of it. The blame game is constantly played from fools from both sides and it is what is ripping this country apart.
repeat after me-what does it matter as spoken by hillary clinton in true c u next tuesday fashion,,,,,