ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey lashed out Monday at Kurdish targets, bombing military positions in northern Iraq and rounding up dozens of militants at home after a suicide car bombing in the heart of the Turkish capital drew the country deeper into the complex Syrian conflict.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said there were “strong indications” that Sunday’s attack was carried out by the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
Davutoglu added that authorities had detained 11 people directly connected to the suicide bombing near a line of bus stops that killed 37 people. DNA tests were underway to identify the bomber and another body thought to be that of a person who assisted, he said, while a senior government official has said the bomber was a woman.
“There are very serious, almost certain indications that point to the separatist terror organization,” Davutoglu said, referring to the PKK.
The attack further complicated Turkey’s place in the region as it battles a host of enemies across its borders including the Syrian government, Kurdish rebels in Iraq and Syria and the Islamic State group, even after being forced to absorb 2.7 million refugees from the conflict.
Turkey also is battling the PKK, a Kurdish group fighting for autonomy in southeastern Turkey for three decades.
A fragile, 2½-year peace process broke down last July. Turkey blames the PKK, saying it was inspired by the success of the Kurdish militia forces in Syria against the Islamic State. The PKK blames Turkey for failing to deliver on promises.
More than 200 people have died in five suicide bombings in Turkey since July that were blamed on Kurdish rebels or the Islamic State.
