by NAT da Polis

A bomb attack on an armored military vehicle and exchange of fire between PKK militants and soldiers. A dozen dead, and many wounded. The Kurdish question becomes increasingly violent in its clash with Ankara, but also inside its own ranks.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) - At least seven Turkish soldiers were killed in a bombing yesterday afternoon in the vicinity of the town of Tunceli in 'Eastern Turkey: an armored vehicle was targeted in a bomb attack by PKK guerrillas (Kurdistan Workers Party), a group fighting for autonomy and whom the European Union consider a terrorist training.

The 'attack was followed by a clash between the Turkish military and the PKK militants, in which, according to army sources a member of the PKK was killed and many of them were injured.

The area of ​​Tunceli has a high density of the Kurdish population and has become ground of fierce clashes between the PKK and the Turkish armed forces in recent months.

The armed organization has caused heavy losses in the ranks of the Turkish army, despite repeated sweeping operations, that have cost the lives of hundreds of suspected PKK rebels.

A week ago, another attack resulted in the death of 10 Turkish soldiers and wounded 60 others.

This latest attack by PKK Kurds underlines a worsening situation in southeastern Turkey. Mehmet Ali Birant, an authoritative voice of the intelligentsia, told the newspaper Taraf that "the 'Turkish winter will be very heavy" due to the continuing attacks by the PKK, which, according to Birand, "in the coming months will target the big cities, particularly shopping malls".

The same Birant also hypothesizes the likelihood of a Kurdish civil war, given the conflicting views within the Kurdish sphere. In any case, the Kurdish scourge remains an open and bleeding wound throughout Turkey

 

• turkey
• pkk
• attack
• independence
• kurds