Two soldiers killed, 24 injured in Turkey suicide attack

AGRI, Turkey

At least two Turkish soldiers were killed and 24 others were injured in a suspected suicide attack in Turkey’s eastern Agri province early on Sunday, an official statement said.

The Agri Governor's Office said in a statement that a tractor laden with around two tons of explosives hit the Karabulak Gendarmerie Station, some 15 kilometers from Agri's Dogubeyazit town, at around 3 a.m., local time (00:00 GMT).

The station building was badly damaged in the attack and several injured soldiers were rushed to hospitals around neighboring towns.

“The attack has been carried out by members of the terrorist organization PKK,” the regional governor's office added in the statement.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, also known as the PKK, is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union.

Separately, a Turkish soldier was killed and four others were injured when a landmine hit their patrol around the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline in Turkey’s southeastern province of Mardin late Saturday, security sources said.

The injured soldiers were taken to Midyat State Hospital.

Security forces have launched an operation to catch the attackers.

Tensions between the Turkish army and the PKK have increased after a string of deadly attacks in the country.

Security forces have come under attack across the country since the July 20 Suruc bombing in southeastern Turkey, which killed 32 people. The bombing was believed to be the work of Daesh.

Turkey has responded to the bloodshed by arresting more than 1,300 suspected supporters of outlawed groups, including Daesh and the PKK.

A “solution process” to end the 30-year conflict between Turkey and the PKK militants began in 2013. The process has stalled after the recent murders of a number of police officers and soldiers in the country.