UN Secretary General Condemns PKK Attack in Ankara, Calls on All Parties to Exercise Self-Restraint After Turkey's Attack on Northern Iraq

JAKARTA - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the terrorist attack carried out by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which killed a civilian and injured two policemen in the capital Ankara, also calling on all parties to exercise restraint after Turkey launched attacks on PKK bases in northern Iraq .

"The Secretary-General condemns the suicide attack in Ankara," UN Secretar- General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told Anadolu Agency (AA) in a statement, as quoted by Daily Sabah October, 3.

"We have also seen reports of Turkish airstrikes in northern Iraq targeting the PKK, which claimed to have carried out suicide attacks in Ankara. The Secretary-General reiterated his call to all parties concerned to exercise restraint and avoid the risk of escalation, in line with the principles of peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.

"The UN Secretary-General reiterated that security issues can only be addressed through constructive dialogue, in line with the principles of good neighborly relations and shared security interests," he added.

Previously, a large explosion occurred on Sunday morning, when a terrorist blew himself up in front of the Directorate General of Security, Ministry of Interior of Turkey.

Turkey's Interior Ministry said it had confirmed the link of one of the dead attackers to the PKK terror group, adding that investigations into other terrorists involved in Sunday's attack continued.

The vehicle used in the attack was stolen from a 24-year-old Turkish citizen named Mikail Bozlağan, who works as an animal health technician in Develi in Kayseri province, the ministry said.

In response, Turkish authorities intensified efforts to combat terrorism across the country. In a series of coordinated operations, around 20 people have been detained on charges related to terrorism or links to terrorist groups. The operation covers 26 addresses in Istanbul and Kırklareli.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Defense has launched a series of airstrikes, targeting PKK terrorist hideouts in northern Iraq near the Turkish border. This operation has killed around 20 PKK terrorists.

A statement from the Ministry of Defense underlined that these air strikes are part of Türkiye's right to self-defense, as stated in Article 51 of the UN Charter. The statement also emphasized that all necessary precautions have been taken to prevent harm to innocent civilians, environmentally friendly elements, historical and cultural assets, and the environment.

The PKK itself has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, Britain and the European Union.