Fatal Blast Near U.S. Embassy in Turkey

A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in Ankara, Turkey right outside the U.S. embassy, killing himself and an embassy guard. UPDATE: White House responds, calling it "an act of terror."

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AP Photo/Yavuz Ozden

An embassy security guard asks for help at the US embassy just minutes after a suicide bomber has detonated an explosive device at the entrance of the U.S. Embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013.

The Associated Press reports that a suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in Ankara, Turkey right outside the U.S. embassy, killing himself and an embassy guard.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the attack happened at 1:13 p.m. local time, and that they were “working closely with the Turkish national police to make a full assessment of the damage and the casualties, and to begin an investigation.”

In a statement, the U.S. Embassy thanked Turkey for “its solidarity and outrage over the incident.”

UPDATE:

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney on the attack:

“A suicide bombing on the perimeter of an embassy is by definition an act of terror. However, we do not know at this point who is responsible or the motivations behind the attack. The attack itself is clearly an act of terror.”