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Erdoğan blames Syrian Kurdish PYD for Ankara bombing; separate blast kills 6

By Andrew V. Pestano
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused the Syrian Kurdish PYD of carrying out the Ankara military barracks bombing that killed at least 28 as a separate attack killed at least six on Thursday. The PYD has denied the accusations. File photo by Ali Turkel/UPI
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused the Syrian Kurdish PYD of carrying out the Ankara military barracks bombing that killed at least 28 as a separate attack killed at least six on Thursday. The PYD has denied the accusations. File photo by Ali Turkel/UPI | License Photo

ANKARA, Turkey, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused the Syrian Kurdish PYD of carrying out the Ankara military barracks bombing that killed at least 28 while a separate attack killed at least six on Thursday.

The Syrian Kurdish PYD, or Democratic Union Party, denied involvement in Wednesday's attack, which targeted a convoy outside a military barracks -- stating the group does not consider Turkey as an enemy.

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Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said the PYD's military wing, known as the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, worked with rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, to carry out the bombing.

The PYD has repeatedly denied claims of any involvement, but Erdoğan rejected the group's denial during a television address.

"Even though those who head the PYD and PKK say this has no connection with them, based on the information obtained by our interior minister and our intelligence agencies, it is identified that this is done by them," Erdoğan said.

Meanwhile, at least six Turkish soldiers were killed and one was injured Thursday after a bomb targeted a military convoy in Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakır province.

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