Sirnak – At least eight police officers were martyred Friday when PKK terrorists detonated a bomb-laden car near a security checkpoint in the southeastern Turkish province of Sirnak, hospital sources said.
Following the attack, Health Minister Recep Akdag told reporters in Istanbul that the blast also injured over 70 people, leaving four in a critical condition.
Akdag also said he could not give an exact death toll but would release updated information as soon as possible.
Security sources said earlier that the terror attack targeted the checkpoint some 50 meters from riot police unit headquarters in Sirnak’s Cizre town.
The blast caused extensive damage to the police building. Nearby houses and workplaces were also damaged.
Security forces are currently searching for the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council has banned all broadcasts about the deadly attack in the interest of public safety and an ongoing police investigation.
The PKK — also listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU — resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.
Since then, more than 600 security personnel have been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists have been killed.