Iranian bus attacked in Turkey, eight wounded

An Iranian passenger bus carrying 45 passengers was attacked early yesterday morning in the eastern province of Van’s Erciş district, resulting in injuries to eight passengers.

One woman was hit by a bullet in her chest while seven others were hurt by flying glass after the assailants broke the bus’ windows. Two of the passengers were reported to be in criticalcondition.

One of the passengers, Fahlemez Yeti, said the driver noticed that something was wrong but did not try and stop the vehicle.

“Everything happened so quickly. They attacked us with long-barreled weapons,” he said.

Bitlis Gov. Nurettin Yılmaz said the gunmen attacked the moving bus after first trying to stop it.

Erciş was the epicenter of last month’s devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake.

The route through Van is mainly used by Iranians traveling to pilgrimage sites in Syria or heading on business trips to Istanbul.