Ankara car bombing: Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party 'condemns brutal attack on Ankara'

Turkey's pro-Kurdish party has issued a statement condemning the attack in central Ankara, which has killed at least 32 people, according to reports and wounded more than 100 others. The Peoples' Democratic Party, HDP, said on Sunday (13 March) it shares "the huge pain felt along with our citizens."

In an email statement to the media, the HDP stated: "We condemn this brutal attackat a place where many civilians come and in which many citizens died."

The party is frequently accused of being the armed wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK — an accusation it denies. It has also been accused of not speaking out against PKK violence.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, although Kurdish militants and the Islamic State group (Isis) have carried out bombings in the city recently.

At least 100 others were wounded in the blast that occurred near Kizilay square. The explosion is believed to have been caused by a car bomb that went off close to bus stops.

Several ambulances and police cars were sent to the scene. Last month 29 people were killed in a car bombing. In October, 100 people were killed in an attack by IS. It is the third attack on Ankara in six months and raises concerns about the efficacy of intelligence agencies and the government's ability to ensure the security of its citizens.

The Prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is gathering a meeting of security chiefs and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is being briefed on the situation. There has been no official statement as yet.

Members of the public have taken to social media to express their shock at the attack on Turkey.