PKK bomb attacks hit Turkey’s İzmir

Banu ŞEN – İZMİR

Two bomb attacks by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) occurred early on March 29 in the Aegean province of İzmir.

The first blast occurred in a vehicle parked in the Çamlıkule neighborhood of the Buca district at around 2:00 a.m. Police and ambulances were dispatched to the scene and while they were inspecting the area a second explosion occurred 20 minutes later in a garbage container located 300 meters away from the vehicle.

One PKK militant in the vehicle died as the bomb exploded in his arms, according to police sources. One other militant was injured and taken to the hospital.  

Officials stated that the militants were preparing a hand-made bomb when the explosion occurred.

Following the second explosion, police tightened security measurements and closed off the area. Bomb disposal experts also detected that a second bomb in the container was hand-made.

Officials remarked that militants planned to explode a second bomb when police officers arrived at the scene after the first explosion.  

An investigation was opened into the incident while police officers were searching the area for a possible planted bomb.  

Police have confirmed the identities of the militants, who are related to each other. Police also said the two militants had been living in İzmir until the attack, with the killed militant working as a lorry driver who crossed over to Iraq on a number of occasions to learn bomb-making methods.