13 killed and dozens injured in spate of bomb attacks on Turkish security forces

A string of bombings, blamed on Kurdish rebels and targeting Turkey’s security forces, has killed at least 11 people and wounded 226 others. Two of the attacks were car bombings that hit police stations, while a third — a roadside blast — targeted a military vehicle carrying soldiers. Officials say the bombings were carried out by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which is fighting for Kurdish independence. “We will thwart the PKK like we thwarted FETO,” said defence minister Fikri Isik, referring to Fethullah Gulen who Ankara blames for the attempted coup last month.

We have seen once more … that the PKK is a bloody organisation and does not hesitate to kill the people it says it is fighting for

Defence minister Fikri Isik

The first car bombing hit a police station in the eastern province of Van late on Wednesday, killing a police officer and two civilians. At least 73 other people — 53 civilians and 20 police officers — were wounded. Hours later, another car bombing hit police headquarters in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig, killing at least five police office officers and wounding 146 other people. At least 14 of them were in serious condition. Video footage showed a large plume of smoke rising from the area. Cars were overturned and the windows of the four-storey building and its wings were blown out. In the south-eastern province of Bitlis, meanwhile, five soldiers were killed after the rebels detonated a roadside improvised explosive device as an armored military vehicle passed.

No terror organization will force this nation to cow in submission

Prime minister Binali Yildirim

elazig