On December 17, 2016, a suspected car bomb struck a bus carrying soldiers in Kayseri, Turkey, killing 15 soldiers and wounding at least 55 others. According to the Daily Sabah newspaper, the soldiers killed were all low-ranking privates and non-commissioned officers who had been granted leave from the commando headquarters in the city. The attack occurred one week after a double bombing in Istanbul that killed 44 people following a football match.
Many Turkish newspapers reported that the attack targeted the 1st Commando Brigade, to which the killed soldiers belonged. It was reported that this brigade, which includes special forces teams, had played an active role against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) — commonly designated a terrorist organization — in Southeastern Turkey. The Turkish newspaper Akşam additionally reported that commandos from the 1st Commando Brigade had played an important role during the 2016 Siege of Sur.
The soldiers involved were uniformed troops trained at the Kayseri Air Force Brigade who had been separated for the weekend and were traveling on private buses at the time of the attack.
In the aftermath, Turkish authorities detained 15 suspects on December 19, 2016, as part of the ongoing investigation into the bombing.
The attack drew a strong domestic and international response. Turkish Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar stated that Turkey would continue fighting terrorism "at home and abroad" until "the last terrorist is disabled." Numerous countries issued condemnations and expressed condolences, including Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Pakistan, Italy, Spain, Qatar, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. Statements from foreign ministries and heads of state across these countries expressed solidarity with Turkey and condemned the attack as an act of terrorism. Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and offered cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. The United States, through its National Security Council and State Department, affirmed solidarity with Turkey as a NATO ally and offered support for the ongoing investigation.
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