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March 2016 Ankara bombing

UNSOLVED2015Atatürk Boulevard near Güvenpark, Kızılay, Ankara, Turkey3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On 13 March 2016, a car bomb exploded on Atatürk Boulevard near Güvenpark, close to Kızılay Square in central Ankara, at a location where multiple bus stops and public transit lines converge. The explosion killed at least 37 people and injured 125, 19 of them seriously. A bus and numerous cars were destroyed and nearby buildings damaged. The bomb was reportedly packed with nails and pellets to increase casualties, and the blast was audible from kilometers away. Turkish authorities evacuated the area following the attack as a precaution against further violence.

The attack occurred amid heightened security concerns in Turkey, which was engaged in the coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and in an ongoing conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) following the collapse of a 2015 ceasefire. It was the third major attack in Ankara within six months, following a bombing on 17 February 2016 that killed 30 people and was also claimed by TAK. Prior to the March attack, Turkish intelligence had been searching for bomb-laden vehicles believed prepared by the PKK, and the U.S. Embassy in Ankara had issued a warning on 11 March about a possible attack in the city, though it named a different district as the likely target.

The vehicle used was reportedly a 1995 BMW stolen in Viranşehir on 10 January 2016 and later moved to Diyarbakır before arriving in Ankara on 26 February. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu stated there was "very serious evidence" implicating the PKK. The Ministry of the Interior identified Seher Çağla Demir, described as a PKK-affiliated student, as the assailant; this identification was first reported by the newspaper Sözcü. On 17 March 2016, TAK claimed responsibility for the bombing and also named Demir as the bomber, stating that security forces had been the intended target and apologizing for civilian casualties while warning further civilian deaths were likely. Eleven people were arrested in connection with the attack, and warrants were issued for ten others.

The attack prompted domestic political reactions, including condemnation from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and a statement of condolence from the pro-Kurdish HDP. Protesters attempting to hold a commemoration in Istanbul's Taksim Square were dispersed by police. Numerous foreign governments, including the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, and European Union bodies, issued statements condemning the bombing. In the aftermath, Turkish Air Force jets conducted strikes on PKK positions in Iraqi Kurdistan, and dozens of people were detained nationwide in operations targeting the PKK and affiliated groups. The bombing also had economic effects locally, with reported declines in shopping and tourism activity in Ankara in the following weeks.

Turkish authorities restricted media coverage of the attack following the bombing, including a ban issued by the broadcasting authority RTÜK on covering certain aspects of the explosion, and reports of slowed or blocked access to social media platforms in Turkey.

Key facts

Victims
Cemal Ozdiker, Zeynep Basak Gulsoy, Murat Gul, Hamide Sibel Cetinkaya, Kerim Saglam, Erdem Soydan, Muharrem Cermik, Oguzhan Dura, Taner Kilic, Mehmet Yurtsever, Kemal Kalic, Destina Peri Parlak, Perihan Cermik, Durukhan Yusuf Ozdemir, Elvin Bugra Arslan, Sumeyra Cakmak, Atakan Eray Ozyol, Elif Gizem Akkaya, Mehmet Alan, Kemal Bulut, Mehmet Emir Cakar, Berkay Bas, Ozan Can Akkus, Feyyaz Aydin, Feyza Acisu, Yasar Durakoglu, Bagdat Cermik, Eyup Ensar Ulas, Ayse Bilgilioglu, Nevzat Alagoz, Turgay Bulut, Fehmi Cetinkaya, Ferah Onder, Nusrettin Can Çalkınsın
Date
2015
Location
Atatürk Boulevard near Güvenpark, Kızılay, Ankara, Turkey
Case status
unsolved

Case timeline

  1. 2015-07

    Ceasefire between Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) collapses, leading to renewed conflict.

  2. 2016-01-10

    According to Turkish media, the BMW later used in the bombing is stolen in Viranşehir and taken to Diyarbakır.

  3. 2016-02-17

    A bombing in central Ankara kills 30 people; the attack is claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK).

  4. 2016-02-26

    The car reportedly used in the March bombing arrives in Ankara.

  5. 2016-02-27

    Ankara Police conduct searches for a car bomb in the Kızılay area amid intelligence about PKK-prepared vehicles.

  6. 2016-03-11

    The U.S. Embassy in Ankara warns citizens of a possible attack in the city, naming a different district as the likely site.

  7. 2016-03-13

    A car bomb explodes near Güvenpark and Kızılay Square in Ankara, killing at least 37 people and injuring 125.

  8. 2016-03-17

    The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) claims responsibility for the attack and names Seher Çağla Demir as the bomber.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Cemal Ozdiker

    VICTIM

    58-year-old man killed while waiting at a bus stop.

  • Zeynep Basak Gulsoy

    VICTIM

    First-year law student killed alongside her boyfriend in the bombing.

  • Murat Gul

    VICTIM

    26-year-old private security officer killed while waiting for a bus.

  • Hamide Sibel Cetinkaya

    VICTIM

    55-year-old Ministry of Education employee killed while waiting for a minibus.

  • Kerim Saglam

    VICTIM

    23-year-old university student killed while waiting at the bus station.

  • Seher Çağla Demir

    CHARGED

    Identified by Turkish authorities and named by TAK as the individual who carried out the car bombing; alleged PKK affiliate.

  • Erdem Soydan

    VICTIM

    Taxi driver killed in the bombing.

  • Muharrem Cermik

    VICTIM

    80-year-old retired National Lottery employee killed in the bombing.

  • Oguzhan Dura

    VICTIM

    42-year-old government supervisor killed in the bombing.

  • Taner Kilic

    VICTIM

    45-year-old office tea maker killed in the bombing.

  • Mehmet Yurtsever

    VICTIM

    Former district head of the Republican People's Party (CHP) killed in the bombing.

  • Kemal Kalic

    VICTIM

    49-year-old retired sergeant killed in the bombing.

  • Destina Peri Parlak

    VICTIM

    16-year-old high school student killed while waiting for a bus home.

  • Perihan Cermik

    VICTIM

    55-year-old woman killed in the bombing.

  • Durukhan Yusuf Ozdemir

    VICTIM

    18-year-old high school student and basketball team captain killed in the bombing.

  • Elvin Bugra Arslan

    VICTIM

    20-year-old university student killed in the bombing.

  • Sumeyra Cakmak

    VICTIM

    22-year-old university student killed in the bombing.

  • Atakan Eray Ozyol

    VICTIM

    15-year-old high school student killed in the bombing.

  • Elif Gizem Akkaya

    VICTIM

    19-year-old computer engineering student killed in the bombing.

  • Mehmet Alan

    VICTIM

    26-year-old museum worker killed in the bombing.

  • Kemal Bulut

    VICTIM

    Killed while returning home after watching a football match his son played in.

  • Mehmet Emir Cakar

    VICTIM

    16-year-old high school student awaiting a liver transplant, killed at a bus stop.

  • Berkay Bas

    VICTIM

    20-year-old metallurgical engineering student killed in the bombing.

  • Ozan Can Akkus

    VICTIM

    20-year-old electrical engineering student killed in the bombing.

  • Feyyaz Aydin

    VICTIM

    24-year-old university student who died in hospital after the blast.

  • Feyza Acisu

    VICTIM

    20-year-old university student killed while waiting for transport.

  • Yasar Durakoglu

    VICTIM

    69-year-old assistant school principal killed in the bombing.

  • Bagdat Cermik

    VICTIM

    75-year-old woman killed in the bombing along with family members.

  • Eyup Ensar Ulas

    VICTIM

    Married father of two killed while riding a bus home from work.

  • Ayse Bilgilioglu

    VICTIM

    66-year-old mother of three killed while waiting at a bus stop.

  • Nevzat Alagoz

    VICTIM

    42-year-old police officer and father of two, killed while returning home.

  • Turgay Bulut

    VICTIM

    28-year-old taxi driver and father killed in the bombing.

  • Fehmi Cetinkaya

    VICTIM

    67-year-old victim of the bombing.

  • Ferah Onder

    VICTIM

    Government engineer killed in the bombing; her husband was severely injured.

  • Nusrettin Can Çalkınsın

    VICTIM

    20-year-old law student killed alongside his girlfriend in the bombing.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Atatürk Boulevard near Güvenpark, Kızılay, Ankara, Turkey

39.9200, 32.8536

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
A car bomb detonated near a crowded bus stop area by Güvenpark in central Ankara, Turkey, on 13 March 2016, killing at least 37 people and injuring 125. The militant group Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) claimed responsibility days later.
Where did the bombing happen?
Atatürk Boulevard near Güvenpark, Kızılay, Ankara, Turkey.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: unsolved.
More cases in Türkiye

Sources

  1. March 2016 Ankara bombingwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Ankara bombing: Kurdish militant group claims attack in Turkish capitalnews · The Independent · 2026-07-07
  3. Australian ambassador to Turkey recounts Ankara blastnews · ABC News (Australia) · 2026-07-07