Suicide bomber behind US Embassy attack in Turkey – Ankara governor

Published: 01 February, 2013, 15:31

A suicide bomber has attacked the US Embassy in Ankara, the city’s governor said. There are conflicting reports that a suicide bomber carried out the attack. At least one security guard working at the embassy were killed in the blast.

The blast occurred at the entrance used by the embassy personnel and their visitors, CNNTurk reported. A security guard operating at the x-ray machine at the entrance was reportedly killed while the suicide bomber was passing through the scanner.

Turkish media reports say that two security guards were killed, though though Turkish authorities are yet to comment on the number of casualties. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Television footage showed a door blown and shattered tiles littering the ground by the buildings side entrance, though no damage has been reported within the embassy.

Witnesses told CNN's Turkish service that a bomber was seen approaching the building, and later entered a gate at the fortified compound. Daily Vatan reporter Kıvanc El said in a televised interview that police also suspected that a suicide bomber had carried out the attack, Hurriyet Daily News reported. Body parts were also reportedly strewn around the scene.

An official speaking with AP on condition of anonymity said police had examined security footage taken around the embassy and identified two individuals who might have been the suicide bomber.

However, one source at the nearby British Embassy who spoke with the Daily Telegraph contradicted Turkish media reports that the blast was caused by a suicide bomber. 

"It was not a suicide bomber or car bomb. Someone left a package or threw a package," the source said.

FULL STORY, VIDEO & PICS: http://rt.com/news/explosion-us-embassy-ankara-245/