The Australian ambassador to Turkey has had a narrow escape from a car bomb blast in the Turkish capital which killed at least 34 people.
James Larsen was in a car about 20 metres away from the blast site at an intersection near a transport hub in Ankara. He was unharmed.
“Our ambassador is somewhat shaken, but he is focused on doing his job and ensuring that any Australians that might need support in Turkey at this time are receiving it,” said the Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop. “I don’t believe at all he was targeted. This was actually directed, as I understand, at Turkish soldiers.”
She added: “He is fine. All of the Australian staff and our locally engaged embassy staff are fine. I understand that no foreigners were either killed or injured in the attack.”
On Twitter, Larsen said he was “appalled” by the “shocking terror attack”.
“Deep sympathy and support for government and people of Turkey,” he wrote.
Appalled by shocking terror attack in Ankara tonight. Deep sympathy & support for Government & people of Turkey. https://t.co/Ke4fbVO28d
— James Larsen (@AusAmbTurkey) March 13, 2016
Bishop confirmed that no Australian casualties had been reported but said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was looking into the attack.
“We are constantly reviewing the security arrangements for our diplomats overseas,” she said. “Of course it is an ongoing concern for us.
“Australia doesn’t have embassies in every country in the world but we have about 100 diplomatic posts overseas so this is a continuing concern for us. Whenever there is an incident like this, there is always a review.”
Turkish authorities have claimed links between the car bomb and Kurdish militants, but the pro-Kurdish Democratic Peoples’ party denounced the attack.
“We condemn the bomb attack that occurred this evening in Ankara,” a statement said. “We underline that none of these painful events will manage to destroy the brotherly feelings of our people.”
The blast comes just days after Russian authorities accused Turkey of undertaking “rampant expansion” inside Syria to stop Kurdish forces from mobilising near its shared border.
