Blast heard near AK Party building -Turkish agency
08 Dec 2008 19:13:07 GMT Source: Reuters
(Adds details, background) ISTANBUL, Dec 8 (Reuters) - An explosion was heard outside the ruling AK Party's provincial headquarters in the eastern city of Van on Monday evening, the first day of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, state-run news agency Anatolian reported. The explosion broke storefront windows, the report said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. A local official said the explosion could have been caused by a percussion bomb, a type of explosive that creates a large noise, but usually causes little damage. "After we inspect cameras in the area we will have more information. The explosion caused little damage, but the investigation is continuing," said Van Provincial Governor Ozdemir Cakacak, Anatolian reported. The area was cordoned off to keep traffic away in case of a second bomb attack, the report said. Bombings are not uncommon in Turkey and past attacks have been carried out by ethnic separatists, Islamists and leftist militants. In July, a double bomb attack killed 17 people in a crowded area of Istanbul, the first blast was caused by a loud percussion bomb and the second was a more powerful explosion that ripped through the crowd. (Reporting by Thomas Grove)
A member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) wearing a mask of Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan holds up an animal carcass during a demonstration near the European ...
