ANKARA, Turkey—Authorities investigating the twin suicide bombings at a rally promoting peace with the Kurdish were focusing on the ISIS group, comparing DNA samples of the suspected bombers with those obtained from families of extremists they suspect could have carried out the attacks, a newspaper close to the government reported on Monday.
The government meanwhile, raised the death toll in Turkey’s deadliest attack in years to 97 and said the victims included a Palestinian. A pro-Kurdish party has said that up to 128 people died in the attacks Saturday outside Ankara’s main train station that targeted Turkish and Kurdish activists who were gathering for a rally to call for increased democracy and an end to the renewed fighting between the Kurdish rebels and Turkey’s security forces that has killed hundred since July.
The government said Kurdish rebels or ISIS extremists were likely responsible, while mourners accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of fomenting violence to gain votes for the ruling party ahead of the Nov. 1 elections.
No one has claimed responsibility, but the attack bears similarities to a suicide bombing the government blames on the Islamic State group that killed 33 Turkish and Kurdish peace activists near the town of Suruc bordering Syria in July.
Hurriyet newspaper said the type of device and explosives used in Ankara were the same as those used in the Suruc attack.
Yeni Safak, the paper known to be close to the government, said investigators were testing DNA samples obtained from families of some 20 Turks they believe are ISIS extremists and prepared to carry out suicide bombings.
On Sunday, police detained four more suspected ISIS extremists in a raid in the southern city of Adana, the region’s governor’s office said Monday. The detentions raised the number of suspected ISIS extremists taken into custody in sweeps in four cities to around 40.
It was not clear however, if any of the arrests were linked to the peace rally bombings.
