A suicide bomb attack in the southern Turkish town of Suruc killed at least 30 people and injured some hundred more during a meeting of young activists to organize solidarity with the reconstruction of the neighboring town of Kobani [8] across the Syrian border. The explosion took place during a press conference under a banner reading (in Turkish), "We defended it together, we're building it together." The 300-strong meeting was organized by the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF), linked to Turkey's Socialist Party of the Oppressed [9], at Suruc's Amara Culture Center. Anarchists and other supporters of the Rojava Kurds were also in attendance, and among the dead. (BBC News [10], Rudaw [11], Hurriyet Daily News [12], Revolución Real Ya [13] Facebook page, July 20) Street clashes broke out with police after the blasts, with youth chanting "Erdogan is a killer!" and "Martyrs are immortal!" Police used water cannons to disperse the angry crowd. The clashes reportedly started when police arrived on the scene in an armored vehicle even before ambulences, blocking the street and aiming their rifles at survivors. (Rudaw [14], NBC [15], Black Rose [16])
Turkey's pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP [17]) said the attack was carried out by ISIS, and called for broad unity on the Turkish and Kurdish left to oppose the jihadist group. "This is the message of 'Give up on your solidarity' to courageous people who unified around Kobani with revolutionary spirit," the statement read, vowing defiance. (Daily Sabah [18], July 20)
