ANKARA, Turkey — Two people have died after a suicide bomb exploded Friday outside the US embassy in Ankara, the city’s governor said.
Ankara Governor Alaaddin Yuksel said one of the dead included the suicide bomber, who was male, GlobalPost’s Suzanna Koster reported. The second killed was a Turkish national and embassy staffer, Interior Minister Muammer Guler said.
Guler identified the staffer as Mustafa Akarsu, born in 1966, Koster reported.
Koster added that a journalist was injured and is in critical condition.
NBC News had earlier reported three dead, citing information from Turkish police officials.
The explosion in the Turkish capital was a suspected terrorist attack, the British Consulate-General in Istanbul said, urging British businesses to be vigilant.
“There has been a suspected terrorist attack on the US Embassy in Ankara. Due to the nature of this incident we advise you to be extra vigilant and to take appropriate security measures to safeguard your staff and assets,” the British mission said in a statement.
A witness speaking to Reuters said that a loud explosion was heard in the area. The Associated Press reported that the blast occured inside the US embassy’s gates, right outside a security check point.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. NBC News reported that the State Department has not released any details. According to Reuters, one of the security guards stationed at the embassy who died was a US citizen.
Several buildings near the embassy have also been damaged by the blast, AFP reported. The US embassy is located is near seveal other foreign embassies in Ankara, including the German and French.
