site.btaUPDATED Suicide Bomber Outside Ankara Interior Ministry, Two Policemen Wounded

A suicide bombing was carried out Saturday outside the Interior Ministry in the centre of Ankara. A loud explosion was heard at 9:30 a.m., followed by gunfire. 

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on his X social media account that two terrorists arrived in a minivan in front of the Interior Ministry around 9:30 a.m. One of the terrorists blew himself up, the other was neutralized by the police. 

Two policemen were injured in the blast. Their condition is not critical, Yerlikaya said.

Increased security measures have been taken in the area. Many police teams, fire brigades, ambulances have been dispatched. 

Traffic on several boulevards in the area, including part of Ataturk Boulevard, has been cut off.

The Interior Ministry is very close to Turkiye's Grand National Assembly, where the new Parliamentary year is scheduled to open Saturday.

It is not yet clear who is behind the attack.

Ankara's Prosecution Office has launched an investigation into the case.

Ankara police are increasing the cordoned-off perimeter in downtown Ankara, where it is raining, and the area is almost deserted. Large numbers of heavily armed security forces are deployed in the Turkish capital. Armoured vehicles are visible at major intersections. Military helicopters fly over the city, BTA's correspondent reports on site.

Representatives of the local and foreign press are not allowed in the cordoned-off area. 

The police told BTA that this was due to security concerns and restrictions imposed by the authorities on broadcasting information in the media about the terrorist attack.