WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
Some 28 people died on Wednesday following an explosion near to a military base in the Turkish capital of Ankara. Al-Arabiya reported that a car packed with explosives was detonated as military busses passed by. Footage across social networks and on local TV showed a plume of black smoke emanating from the blast site. Pictures of the scene show a bus ripped by the blast.
The governor of Ankara confirmed the fatalities, adding that ten others were injured in the blast. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag posted on Twitter that the attack was an act of terrorism. He later confirmed the death toll, adding that 61 had been wounded in the blast. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu canceled a scheduled trip to Brussels following the attack.
Speaking to Reuters, a witness said, "I heard a huge explosion. There was smoke and a really strong smell even though we were blocks away."
Wednesday's tragedy follows an explosion in October last year in which two suicide bombers attacked a rally of pro-Kurdish activists near to the city's main train station. More than 100 people died.
Ankara Explosion
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Smoke rises from a burning bus after military vehicles hit by Ankara blast close to government, at Merasim street on the intersection of Inonu Boulevard and Dikmen avenue in Turkey's capital Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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An injured person receives medical treatment by rescue workers following an explosion after an attack targeted a convoy of military service vehicles in Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:ADEM ALTAN via Getty Images)
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A firefighter tries to put out a fire as Turkish army busses burn after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Erhan Ortac via Getty Images)
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A firefighter tries to put out a fire as Turkish army busses burn after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Erhan Ortac via Getty Images)
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A man reacts next to policemen near the site of an explosion after an attack targeted a convoy of military service vehicles in Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
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Smokes rises above buildings following an explosion after an attack targeted a convoy of military service vehicles in Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:STRINGER via Getty Images)
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A police officer gestures as he walks at the site of an explosion while firefighters try to extinguish flames after an attack targeted a convoy of military service vehicles in Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:STRINGER via Getty Images)
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Turkish police secure the blast site after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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Turkish army service busses burn after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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Ambulances pass the blast site after an explosion hit the Turkish army's service busses in Ankara, February 17, 2016 Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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Smoke billows from the blast site as Turkish army service busses burn after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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Turkish army service busses burn after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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Turkish army service busses burn after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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Turkish army service busses burn after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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A wounded man is carried to an ambulance after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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Emergency workers help an injured person on the ground near the site of an explosion after an attack targeted a convoy of military service vehicles in Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:CIHAN via Getty Images)
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Turkish army service busses burn after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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A wounded man is carried to an ambulance after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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People carry a wounded man as Turkish army service busses burn after an explosion on February 17, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. (credit:Defne Karadeniz via Getty Images)
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Firefighters work at a scene of fire from an explosion in Ankara, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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People react at the scene of an explosion in Ankara, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Firefighters work at a scene of fire from an explosion in Ankara, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Smoke from a fire billow is seen following an explosion as police officers secure the area in Ankara, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Turkey Explosion(24 of34)
Firefighters work on a fire as police secure the area of an explosion in Ankara, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, after assailants exploded a car bomb near vehicles carrying military personnel in the Turkish capital, killing several people and injuring scores of others, officials said. The explosion occurred during evening rush hour in the heart of city, in an area close to where military headquarters and the parliament are located. (Mustafa Kirazli/Cihan News Agency via AP) TURKEY OUT (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A police officer clears the area of an explosion in Ankara, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, after assailants exploded a car bomb near vehicles carrying military personnel in the Turkish capital. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Smoke rises from a burning bus after an explosion at Merasim street on the intersection of Inonu Boulevard and Dikmen avenue in Turkey's capital Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Smoke rises from a burning bus after military vehicles hit by Ankara blast close to government, at Merasim street on the intersection of Inonu Boulevard and Dikmen avenue in Turkey's capital Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Smoke rises from a burning bus after military vehicles hit by Ankara blast close to government, at Merasim street on the intersection of Inonu Boulevard and Dikmen avenue in Turkey's capital Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Injured people are taken to hospital after military vehicles hit by Ankara blast close to government, at Merasim street on the intersection of Inonu Boulevard and Dikmen avenue in Turkey's capital Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Firefighters try to extinguish flames following an explosion after an attack targeted a convoy of military service vehicles in Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:STRINGER via Getty Images)
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Firefighters try to extinguish flames following an explosion after an attack targeted a convoy of military service vehicles in Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:STRINGER via Getty Images)
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Flames are seen following an explosion after an attack targeted a convoy of military service vehicles in Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:STRINGER via Getty Images)
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A fire engine stands at the site of an explosion after an attack targeted a convoy of military service vehicles in Ankara on February 17, 2016. (credit:STRINGER via Getty Images)
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Firefighters work at a scene of fire from an explosion in Ankara, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
More to follow...