Explosion at Turkish Embassy in The Hague

AP ^ | 11/4/2003 | N/A

[a_Turk]

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - An explosion and fire shook the Turkish embassy in The Hague (news - web sites) on Tuesday, but there were not believed to be any injuries, an Embassy spokeswoman said.

"That's right there was an explosion," said Mieke Swaving, the Turkish Ambassador's secretary. "I don't think there are any injuries."

The cause of the explosion was unknown. Dutch television reported that a person was seen jumping from a window of the embassy building onto a car.

Buildings adjacent to the embassy were evacuated and surrounding streets were cordoned off. Explosives and anti-terrorism teams were on the scene, Dutch television reported.

Edith Lommerse, a spokeswoman for The Hague police, confirmed there was a fire at the embassy, and said police were still investigating its cause.

The Turkish Embassy is located in downtown The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government, near parliament buildings and several other embassies.

[Ex-Dem]

Would this have something to do with the fact that Turkey is weighing in on whether to send peacekeepers to Iraq? AQ perhaps trying to send them a message?

[a_Turk]

The Netherlands is a hot bed of terrorists. Two Turkish terrorist organizations have found refuge there and are allowed to conduct their business. These organizations, both Marxist and decades old left-overs of the cold war are: DHKP/C (Revolutionary Peoples Freedom Party/ Front) and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party).

The news in Turkey a couple of days ago mentioned a roadside bomb in Sirnak, Turkey, which killed a few kids and sent a few more to the hospital.

The Turkish intelligence, last month, alerted the governors of Turkish provinces of increased PKK activity. The PKK, an organization of Turkish citizens of Kurdish heritage listed as terrorist by the USA, is currently holed up in northern Iraq enjoying de facto protection by the US forces... They have stated publicly their assumption that the US would not hit them. So I am pretty sure that it is the PKK..

[Brandon]

Clearly, Turkey went into The Hague without a plan, and now they have no plan for a sustained presence. They should end their presence in The Hague immediately. Because we all know that Bad Things never happen, as long as you have a Plan.

[a_Turk]

It's an embassy! Are you saying we should withdraw our Ambassador?

[Michael81Dus]

Ping

[LikeLight]

It's a freakin' QUAGMIRE . . .

[Dog Gone]

Is it possible that this is the work of an anti-immigration element in Holland?

[sarasota]

We know the PKK is a terrorist organization and we won't "hit them"? Huh?

[a_Turk]

I have never heard of anti-immigration types bombing embassies. They usually set homes and businesses alight.

Embassy bombings have always been comitted by terrorists.. But anything is possible, I guess..

[Michael81Dus]

DG, it´s possible, yes. Kurds (wether organized in the PKK or not) sometimes do such things, we could experience that here in several cities. The Kurds prefered Consulates, and they sometimes tried to occupy these buildings, too.

Everything´s possible, everywhere and anytime.

[a_Turk]

Mind boggling. I'm pretty sure that the northern Iraq pipeline bombings are also their work.

Somehow the US seems convinced that a confrontation with the PKK should be avoided. Suppose that's why no pipeline bomber has ever been caught, even though it's obvious when the next bombing will take place, and the pipeline is only about 150 miles long.

Also, the PKK has a presence in the USA, where they were allowed to operate freely during the 90s, even though they are responsible for over 30000 deaths in Turkey, including many Kurds who wouldn't support them.

[a_Turk]

>> The Kurds prefered Consulates, and they sometimes tried to occupy these buildings, too.

I don't know of any occurance of Kurds accupying or attacking Turkish embassies/ counsulates..

Also, you must be aware of the distinction between just plain Kurds, and the PKK. PKK members who fled Turkey after being found out were given asylum in Germany.

I hope Deutschland kept track of which Turkish Kurds were given political asylum..

[Aquinasfan]

Because we all know that Bad Things never happen, as long as you have a Plan.

LOL! Great post 8-)

[Michael81Dus]

The Hamburg Consulate was occupied for a day, some years ago, when PKK-chief Öcalan was caught by the Turkish intelligence. Other consulates were attacked by a bunch of Kurds.

[sarasota]

There is a piece of this puzzle that is missing; otherwise it would make sense that we're protecting this terrorist element. Puzzling.

[a_Turk]

Hmm. I must have missed that.. I thought they occupied other nations embassies. Sorry and thanks.

Please keep in mind that Many Turkish Kurds have died at the hands of the PKK for refusing them support. Therefore it is not fair to refer to such criminals as mere Kurds..

[a_Turk]

Not so much that you are protecting them, but that you are unwilling to engage them, or let anyone else do so. It's probably to prevent instability in northern Iraq and the US. But at what cost?

[Michael81Dus]

No I don´t! But several attacks had no links to the PKK, but were committed by outraged normal Kurds.

[a_Turk]

Herr May ist nie dort gewesen..