Thousands of people were gathering at noon local time for a rally calling for an end to violence between Kurdish separatist group PKK and Turkish security forces. It was organized by the country’s public sector workers’ trade union and other civic society groups.

The twin explosions hit within minutes and about 50 meters apart. Videos posted on social media showed chaotic scenes and bodies in one of the city’s main squares, near the central train station. There were also reports of clashes between police and protesters after the attack. Today’s Zaman reported that people booed and threw bottles at government ministers who arrived at the scene.