Several bombs exploded Saturday in Ankara on the 10^th of October 2015, during a peaceful demonstration, called by labor organizations and chambers and with the support of the United June Movement, CHP and HDP. People from all over the Turkey came together for the “peace”. With the explosion of three bombs, almost a hundred people have died and hundreds of people have been seriously injured. The Party of the European Left strongly condemns this cowardly and barbaric act and expresses its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

The Erdoğan-AKP government is dragging Turkey towards a war. Especially after 7 June elections, after the defeat at the polls, the AKP government dragged the country into gradually escalating violence. Several HDP-members have been arrested and premises were burnt in different cities in Turkey. Also, after the murder of 33 young people in Suruç, instead of ISIS, Kurds were targeted in order to deepen sectarianism in the society. Furthermore, AKP has increased police terror in the streets and tried to punish anyone who opposed it.

The demonstration of the 10^th of October was organized as a result of the need of a common ground accumulating all reactions of the society against Erdoğan’s war policy, accompanied by the fascist blockade. And this barbaric attack was not only against the group gathered in the Ankara, it targeted all people who demand freedom, peace and democracy in Turkey.

To date, the perpetrators of the attack are still unknown, but it is essential that the Turkish Government quickly determines who they are.

The EL urges the international community to act to stop the war and make every effort for a return to peace in this region.