The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), a militant group active in Turkey, claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack that killed 37 people in the capital Ankara, according to a statement on its website on Thursday, March 17, Reuters reports.

The group described the car bombing, which occurred on Sunday, as "vengeful action" for security operations in the mainly Kurdish southeast that have been underway since July, killing hundreds of civilians, security forces and militants.

TAK previously claimed responsibility for a separate car bombing in Ankara last month that killed 29 people. TAK says it split from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Experts who follow Kurdish militants say the groups retain ties.