A SUSPECTED CAR bomb that exploded in a busy street in central Ankara yesterday has killed three people and wounded 34 others, according to Turkish officials.

Three of the wounded are understood to be in critical condition.

Turkish Interior Ministry officials say that Kurdish rebels are suspected to be responsible for the attack, which is the first deadly bombing in the capital in more than four years.

The explosion took place at about midday in the busiest area of Ankara’s central district. Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul strongly condemned the attack, saying that planting a bomb “in an area of heavy motor and pedestrian traffic in order to cause loss of life and property damage is considered an act of terror”.

Gul offered condolences to the victims of the attack and said that the perpetrators were “individuals lacking humanity”, reports Hurriyet Daily News.

Those who died, two men and a woman, were killed in the powerful blast that destroyed six cars and damaged buildings, the BBC reports.