Unidentified gunmen attack Iranian bus in eastern Turkey, injuring 8

Unidentified gunmen attack Iranian bus in eastern Turkey, injuring 8

2011-11-16 15:27:30 GMT+7 (ICT)

ANKARA (BNO NEWS) -- Unidentified gunmen attacked an Iranian bus in eastern Turkey on Tuesday, local media reported on Wednesday. Eight people, including a young child, were injured in the shooting.

The attack happened when two men opened fire on a bus in the eastern province of Van, which is still recovering from a powerful earthquake which struck the region last month and left more than 600 people killed. The bus was en-route to Syria with 40 passengers on board.

According to the Hurriyet Daily News website, the gunmen had initially signaled the bus driver to stop. However, the bus driver instead sped away at high speed to a nearby police station as the gunmen opened fire on the vehicle.

Officials said eight people, including the bus driver and a seven-year-old child, were injured and transported to nearby hospitals. The suspects fled in a vehicle, and their identities pr possible affiliation as well as their motive were not immediately known.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Embassy in Ankara said it had made the necessary arrangements with Turkish officials to ensure that the victims of the attack would receive the necessary care. The embassy also said that the Iranian consulate in the eastern Turkish city of Erzurum is investigating the incident.

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