PKK attack injures two police officers in southeastern Turkey

PKK attack injures two police officers in southeastern Turkey

2011-11-09 03:16:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

ANKARA (BNO NEWS) -- Suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) ambushed a police patrol vehicle in southern Turkey on Monday evening, leaving two police officers injured, local media reported on Tuesday.

The attack happened on Monday evening when PKK rebels opened fire on a police vehicle carrying special forces in the GercüÅŸ district of the southeastern province of Batman. The officers responded to the attack, resulting in a clash which lasted for about 10 minutes, the Hurriyet Daily News reported.

The two injured officers were taken to a nearby hospital but their injuries were not considered to be life-threatening, reports said. The rebels managed to flee the area, and an operation was initiated to apprehend them.

The PKK, which has been labeled as a terrorist organization by the United States, Turkey and the European Union, was established in 1984 in its efforts to establish the eastern and southeastern regions of Turkey as an autonomous Kurdish state. Over 40,000 soldiers and civilians have been killed in violent clashes since the group took arms. The PKK maintains its military bases across the Iraqi border.

The group has intensified its campaign in recent months, carrying out scores of attacks which have left more than 65 Turkish soldiers killed since July alone. As a result of the attacks, the Turkish military launched operations in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq.

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