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Many feared dead & wounded as car bomb explodes at police HQ in Turkey’s southeast 9 feared killed, 64 injured as car bomb explodes at police HQ in Turkey’s southeast (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
(35 minutes later)
Many people were killed and wounded when a bomb blast hit a police station in the city of Cizre in the southeast of Turkey, according to local security sources, as cited by Reuters. 9 people were killed and 64 wounded when a bomb blast hit a police station in the city of Cizre in the southeast of Turkey, according to hospital sources, as cited by Reuters.
Unconfirmed reports say that at least three police officers have been “martyred” in the attack.Unconfirmed reports say that at least three police officers have been “martyred” in the attack.
Several people injured in the blast were sent to hospital, according to the Turkish Anadolu agency.
Photos and videos coming from the southeastern city in Turkey’s Sirnak Province show destroyed buildings and ambulances rushing to the scene.Photos and videos coming from the southeastern city in Turkey’s Sirnak Province show destroyed buildings and ambulances rushing to the scene.
According to local media, the blast caused "extensive damage" to the police HQ building. However, it is not immediately clear how much destruction has been caused by the blast itself, as the city had already been left devastated by the Turkish operation against Kurdish militants. The police station was completely destroyed by the blast, NTV broadcaster reported.
Initial information suggests that the explosives were planted in a car.
Other less powerful blasts occurred at an arms depot nearby, where several buildings were damaged, according to NTV.
Anadolu news agency and other local media say the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is behind the blast.Anadolu news agency and other local media say the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is behind the blast.
Cizre is in Sirnak, a province that borders both Syria and Iraq and has a largely Kurdish population.Cizre is in Sirnak, a province that borders both Syria and Iraq and has a largely Kurdish population.
On Wednesday, Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield, sending its troops into northern Syria ostensibly to take the town of Jarablus from IS. The Turkish operation wasn’t authorized by the Syrian government, however. Kurdish YPG command has denounced the offensive, saying Turkey is targeting the Kurds “more than ISIS.”
READ MORE: Turkish army shells Kurds ‘refusing to retreat’ near Jarablus – state media
In April, a human rights group in Turkey sent a report to the UN detailing serious human rights violations committed by the Turkish military during its campaign against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party in the country’s southeast, as well as during curfews imposed in the region by Ankara.
At that time, several activists from major human right watchdogs went to Cizre and witnessed the aftermath of the military operations, which left the city devastated.
In April, a human rights group in Turkey sent a report to the UN detailing serious human rights violations committed by the Turkish military during its campaign against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party in the country’s southeast, as well as during curfews imposed in the region by Ankara. At that time, several activists from major human right watchdogs went to Cizre and witnessed the aftermath of the military operations.
READ MORE: 'UN should open fact-finding mission on human rights violations in Cizre'READ MORE: 'UN should open fact-finding mission on human rights violations in Cizre'