Trio of bombing attacks in Turkey kill 14 people, wound 220 others, while ISIS fighters kill 10 in Libya explosion
Two cars loaded with explosives and a roadside blast targeting Turkey's security forces left at least 14 people dead in a trio of attacks, officials said Thursday.
Authorities say the assaults — which wounded 220 people — were the bloody work of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has launched a campaign of car bombings targeting police stations and security force vehicles.
The group's leader, Cemil Bayik, last week threatened more violence against police in Turkish cities.
In a separate attack in Libya, Islamic State suicide bombers detonated two cars bombs that killed at least 10 of Libya's pro-government forces, authorities said.
The death toll is expected to go up because many of those injured are in critical condition, said Ahmed Hadia, a spokesman for troops loyal to the U.N.-backed government who are fighting to liberate the city of Sirte where the attack occurred.
Turkish authorities search outside a damaged building after an explosion hit police headquarters in Elazig, Turkey, on Thursday. (SAHISMAIL GEZICI/AP)
The city is ISIS' last stronghold in the country, and Libyan troops have been forcing the extremists into smaller areas there with the help of U.S. airstrikes.
In Turkey, the wave of attacks come as government is focused on a clampdown on suspected followers of a movement led by U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the government accuses of orchestrating a failed military coup last month that killed at least 270 people.
Fighting between the PKK and Turkey's security forces resumed last year after a fragile peace process collapsed. Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
Human rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also died in the clashes.
Turkish rescue workers stand by the wreckage of a vehicle as a Turkish police officer inspects a destroyed car in Elazig. (ILYAS AKENGIN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict since the PKK took up arms for autonomy in southeast Turkey in 1984. Turkey and its allies consider the PKK a terrorist organization.
As for the latest attacks, the initial car bombing hit a police station in the eastern province of Van late Wednesday, killing a police officer and two civilians. At least 73 other people — 53 civilians and 20 police officers — were wounded, officials said.
Another car bombing hit police headquarters in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig early Thursday, killing at least five people, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. Officials said earlier 146 people were wounded and 14 of them were in serious condition.
Video footage showed the carnage, including a large plume of smoke rising from the area. Cars were overturned and the windows of the four-story building and its wings were blown out.
The car bomb attack in Elazig was just one of three attacks to hit the unrestful country. (ILYAS AKENGIN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
One of the attacks was focused on the military, officials said,
In the southeastern province of Bitlis, five soldiers were killed after rebels detonated a roadside improvised explosive device as an armored military vehicle was passing by, authorities said. Five other soldiers were wounded in the attack. A government-paid village guard helping security forces battle the PKK was also killed in a clash with rebels in the province, Anadolu reported.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim traveled to Elazig to visit the site of the bombing as well as those wounded in the attack.
He told reporters there both the PKK and the Gulen movement were directed by the same "intelligence" intent on causing Turkey harm, without elaborating.
Turkish police officers stand guard as Turkish rescue workers and police inspect the blast scene Thursday in Elazig. (ILYAS AKENGIN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
"The (Gulen movement) has lost its assertiveness and has handed over the duty to the (PKK)," Yildirim said. "The intelligence that directs them is the same. When one's duty ends, the other takes up the duty."
Yildirim vowed to fight the PKK until it is "eliminated."
"No terror organization will force this nation to cow in submission," Yildirim said.
Amnesty International condemned Thursday's car bombings as "the latest in a series of reckless and brutal attacks."
"Those responsible for these crimes show a contempt for the right to life and must be brought to justice," said Andrew Gardner, the rights group's Turkey researcher.
Authorities say the assaults — which wounded 220 people — were the bloody work of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has launched a campaign of car bombings targeting police stations and security force vehicles.
The group's leader, Cemil Bayik, last week threatened more violence against police in Turkish cities.
In a separate attack in Libya, Islamic State suicide bombers detonated two cars bombs that killed at least 10 of Libya's pro-government forces, authorities said.
The death toll is expected to go up because many of those injured are in critical condition, said Ahmed Hadia, a spokesman for troops loyal to the U.N.-backed government who are fighting to liberate the city of Sirte where the attack occurred.
The city is ISIS' last stronghold in the country, and Libyan troops have been forcing the extremists into smaller areas there with the help of U.S. airstrikes.
In Turkey, the wave of attacks come as government is focused on a clampdown on suspected followers of a movement led by U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the government accuses of orchestrating a failed military coup last month that killed at least 270 people.
Fighting between the PKK and Turkey's security forces resumed last year after a fragile peace process collapsed. Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
Human rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also died in the clashes.
Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict since the PKK took up arms for autonomy in southeast Turkey in 1984. Turkey and its allies consider the PKK a terrorist organization.
As for the latest attacks, the initial car bombing hit a police station in the eastern province of Van late Wednesday, killing a police officer and two civilians. At least 73 other people — 53 civilians and 20 police officers — were wounded, officials said.
Another car bombing hit police headquarters in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig early Thursday, killing at least five people, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. Officials said earlier 146 people were wounded and 14 of them were in serious condition.
Video footage showed the carnage, including a large plume of smoke rising from the area. Cars were overturned and the windows of the four-story building and its wings were blown out.
One of the attacks was focused on the military, officials said,
In the southeastern province of Bitlis, five soldiers were killed after rebels detonated a roadside improvised explosive device as an armored military vehicle was passing by, authorities said. Five other soldiers were wounded in the attack. A government-paid village guard helping security forces battle the PKK was also killed in a clash with rebels in the province, Anadolu reported.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim traveled to Elazig to visit the site of the bombing as well as those wounded in the attack.
He told reporters there both the PKK and the Gulen movement were directed by the same "intelligence" intent on causing Turkey harm, without elaborating.
"The (Gulen movement) has lost its assertiveness and has handed over the duty to the (PKK)," Yildirim said. "The intelligence that directs them is the same. When one's duty ends, the other takes up the duty."
Yildirim vowed to fight the PKK until it is "eliminated."
"No terror organization will force this nation to cow in submission," Yildirim said.
Amnesty International condemned Thursday's car bombings as "the latest in a series of reckless and brutal attacks."
"Those responsible for these crimes show a contempt for the right to life and must be brought to justice," said Andrew Gardner, the rights group's Turkey researcher.
(Source : nydailynews.com)
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