Turkey: PKK blamed for fatal double shooting

The three soldiers were killed when PKK militants attacked an army battalion in Turkey’s southeastern province of Sirnak on Thursday, an army statement said. It added that drones, helicopters and special units had been sent to the area to “eliminate the terrorists”.

Tensions have risen between Turkey and the outlawed PKK in the past week, with the latter stepping up attacks on police and troops while Turkish warplanes target the group’s camps and police round up suspected supporters.

The policeman and one civilian passerby named as Osman Caran died of their wounds in hospital overnight, the reports said.

“As a result of an attack by the separatist terror organisation three of our fearless personnel – one officer, one non-commissioned officer, and one private – were killed”.

The Hurriyet daily said Turkish intelligence sources believed as many as 190 PKK fighters had been killed in the air operations and 300 wounded.

Sweden also announced its support for Turkey, calling it “an important partner of the European Union in the fight against terrorism and Daesh”.

The Turkish military strikes against targets in Iraq and Syria, which started last Friday, came after at least 32 people were killed in a massive “terrorist” explosion in the southwestern Turkish town of Suruç earlier.

Prior to that, there had been a two-year ceasefire between the two sides.

“It is just an attempt to remove the black clouds above him (Demirtas)”, said Erdogan, quoted by the Anatolia news agency.

“The operation to catch the terrorists is underway”, added the statement.

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Wednesday 847 people have been detained over links to the PKK and 137 held over links to IS.