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Turkey blast 'kills seven' in Tunceli | Turkey blast 'kills seven' in Tunceli |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A large explosion has rocked the Turkish city of Tunceli, killing seven people, mainly security personnel. | |
The blast targeted a vehicle carrying security forces. | |
The city is near the country's Kurdish area and suspicion will automatically fall upon Kurdish rebel group the PKK, says the BBC's Istanbul correspondent James Reynolds. | The city is near the country's Kurdish area and suspicion will automatically fall upon Kurdish rebel group the PKK, says the BBC's Istanbul correspondent James Reynolds. |
Fighting between Turkish troops and the PKK - the Kurdistan Workers' Party - has escalated in recent months. | Fighting between Turkish troops and the PKK - the Kurdistan Workers' Party - has escalated in recent months. |
Six members of the security forces and one civilian died in the attack in the Ataturk neighbourhood, said local media and hospital sources. | |
Turkish TV stations showed pictures of workers trying to put out fires in two burnt-out vehicles. | Turkish TV stations showed pictures of workers trying to put out fires in two burnt-out vehicles. |
Reports said a vehicle carrying explosives was remotely detonated as an armoured vehicle carrying security forces passed by, sending a huge plume of dark smoke over the city. | Reports said a vehicle carrying explosives was remotely detonated as an armoured vehicle carrying security forces passed by, sending a huge plume of dark smoke over the city. |
Some reports said a civilian vehicle was also damaged in the explosion. | |
One report, in Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News, said security forces arriving on the scene clashed with suspected PKK militants, with one militant killed. | One report, in Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News, said security forces arriving on the scene clashed with suspected PKK militants, with one militant killed. |
No-one has yet said they carried out the attack, but Kurdish rebels are active in the city, which is the capital of the province of Tunceli. | No-one has yet said they carried out the attack, but Kurdish rebels are active in the city, which is the capital of the province of Tunceli. |
'Hundreds dead' | 'Hundreds dead' |
This incident comes amid a surge in fighting in the three-decade conflict between the military and the PKK which in total has killed more than 40,000 people. | This incident comes amid a surge in fighting in the three-decade conflict between the military and the PKK which in total has killed more than 40,000 people. |
In mid-September, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 500 Kurdish rebels had been "rendered ineffective" by Turkish forces in the space of a month. | In mid-September, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 500 Kurdish rebels had been "rendered ineffective" by Turkish forces in the space of a month. |
Many have died in Turkish aerial campaigns against suspected PKK hideouts in the south-east of the country. | Many have died in Turkish aerial campaigns against suspected PKK hideouts in the south-east of the country. |
PKK fighters killed 17 Turkish soldiers and injured scores over three days in Bingol province last week. | PKK fighters killed 17 Turkish soldiers and injured scores over three days in Bingol province last week. |
Earlier this month, one soldier and three Kurdish militants were killed when insurgents attacked army outposts in Tunceli. | Earlier this month, one soldier and three Kurdish militants were killed when insurgents attacked army outposts in Tunceli. |
This has become the most violent period in fighting with the Kurds since the capture of the PKK's leader, Abdullah Ocalan, in 1999, our correspondent says. | This has become the most violent period in fighting with the Kurds since the capture of the PKK's leader, Abdullah Ocalan, in 1999, our correspondent says. |