ANKARA - An explosion occurred at the Turkish Embassy in The Hague on Tuesday. Right after the explosion, a fire broke out in the building. According to the preliminary reports, there were not any immediate reports of casualties in the explosion.
FIRE-BOMB CAUSES EXPLOSION
Turkish Ambassador to the Netherlands Tacan Ildem said that a fire-bomb caused the explosion at the Turkish Embassy in The Hague.
Responding questions of the A.A correspondent on the phone, Ildem said that the explosion occurred at 11.30 local time.
``A person who entered the security room near a side door of the embassy by claiming that he would apply for visa, set off the fire-bomb. The assailant was speaking Dutch language. However, we think that he was not a Dutch citizen. Eyewitnesses described him as a dark-skinned man wearing a black coat. While he was talking to embassy security officials, the assailant set off the bomb. Later, he managed to flee from the area,`` he said.
Noting that they had informed Dutch authorities on the event, Ildem said that they wanted all necessary measures to be taken.
``Despite our demands, Dutch authorities have not taken security measures at the embassy building so far saying that there was no need. Therefore, there has not been a guard at the building,`` he said.
Ildem added, ``we have not received any threat so far. Therefore, the attack can be considered a part of general threats against Turkish embassies in the world.``