Suicide bomber behind Ankara attack identified

ANKARA

The suicide bomber behind last week's deadly Ankara blast was identified as Abdulbaki Somer, according to prosecution sources Tuesday.

The terrorist attack in the Turkish capital on February 17 had claimed 29 lives. The attack also left 60 others wounded.

The identity of the bomber was revealed by a DNA test, the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed, adding that the DNA samples provided by Somer's father matched the assailant's DNA.

Somer's father, who lives in the eastern province of Van, had informed the police that his son was behind the attack.

Abdulbaki Somer, born in 1989, reportedly joined the terrorist PKK organization at the age of 16 in 2005, and was based in the Qandil mountains - the PKK base in northern Iraq – until 2014.

Meanwhile, the media ban on the blast was lifted upon request by the chief prosecutor's office, the same sources said.

Currently, 14 suspects are in custody in relation to the attack.