Seven police officers killed in Diyarbakır car bomb attack, 27 injured

DİYARBAKIR

DHA photo



The attack took place near the city’s bus terminal.



The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) was behind the attack, which targeted the police shuttle, according to initial reports.



A number of ambulances were deployed to the scene and the wounded officers were transferred to Diyarbakır Military Hospital. An investigation was also launched against the attack.



The attack came on the third day ministers were in Diyarbakır to make assessments and attend meetings to reveal the government’s plans to rebuild the clash-hit Sur district.



Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is scheduled to visit the city later on April 1, where he will attend the funeral ceremonies of the victims.



Five of the police officers killed in the attack were reportedly from the capital Ankara. Several Ankara municipalities set up commemoration tents for visitors who wished to deliver their condolences to the families.



Police currently suspect that the explosives were placed in a white car whose driver left the vehicle parked. A surveillance camera has reportedly managed to capture footage of the driver leaving the car before the incident happened.



Police also tries to identify if the driver seen in the images was the perpetrator of the attack.



Seven police officers were killed and 27 people injured, including 13 police officers, in a car bomb attack near a police shuttle in the Bağlar district of southeastern province of Diyarbakır on March 31.