Explosives found amid security discussions in Ankara

A number of explosives, weapons and ammunition were found near a military checkpoint in Ankara on Feb. 25, amid discussions on high-level security measures planned in the wake of a deadly bombing that killed dozens in the Turkish capital on Feb. 17.

The Ankara Governor's Office said in a written statement on Feb. 25 that a machine gun and 287 shells, a Kalashnikov rifle and 120 shells, two hand grenades, two improvised explosive devices and three bags full of explosive material had been found 800 meters away from a gendarmerie checkpoint earlier the same day, according to a report by the state-run Anadolu Agency.

The seizure came amid discussions on high-level security measures planned to be taken primarily in the capital but also in the rest of the country, as Ankara saw a second deadly bombing in less than six months on Feb. 17, when a Turkish suicide bomber identified as Abdulbaki Sömer blew himself up at a busy spot near the country's top military headquarters and the Turkish parliament, killing at least 29 people. 

Having been thoroughly discussed at a meeting headed by Turkish Parliament Speaker ?smail Kahraman late Feb. 24, Ankara will beef up efforts for the security of its parliament. 

The compound of the Turkish parliament will be surrounded by high-security metal fences which were previously used for the area surrounding the country's presidential complex, while unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with firing systems are to be placed at specific spots around the compound. 

Among the security measures discussed in the meeting were placing X-ray machines for cars at the gates of the parliament compound and even searches of Turkish lawmakers' official cars, a security measure stated in a report by Turkish security...