Turkish prison warden killed in attack at traffic lights

ANKARA, Turkey - The Associated Press

DHA Photos

Turkish media and officials say the warden of a high-security prison has been shot dead by unknown assailants who fired at his car as it stopped at traffic lights.
     
The state-run Anadolu Agency says İsmet Aktürk, who died in the attack early June 16, headed the Kandira prison in northwestern Kocaeli province, which houses people convicted of terror charges or links to criminal gangs. He died in a hospital from his wounds.
     
The chief prosecutor for the region, Mustafa Küçük, said the assault appeared to be a "terror" attack, but didn't elaborate.
     
A banned left-wing group has been blamed for a spate of recent attacks, including taking a prosecutor hostage in an Istanbul courthouse in April. That hostage-taking ended in a shootout with police, which killed the prosecutor.

Meanwhile, a retired police chief was found dead near a road in the Marmaris district of Muğla province yesterday. 

Retired police chief Vedat Meran, 57, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head near a road in the Şahintepesi neighborhood. The police have begun an investigation into the death of Meran, who reportedly recently retired from his job.