GAZIANTEP, Turkey

Three police officers were martyred when two Daesh terrorists blew themselves up during a security operation on a cell house in southeastern Turkey’s Gaziantep province Sunday, a regional governor and police told Anadolu Agency.

A third Daesh bomber was killed before he could detonate his explosives, a police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

Nine people, including four Syrians, were also wounded in the incident, Gaziantep Governor Ali Yerlikaya told Anadolu Agency.

According to the governor, at least 19 suspects, including a suspected suicide bomber were arrested, while 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of TNT explosives and nearly a 10 kilogram (22 pounds) heavy anti-tank mine were seized during the security operation.

The provincial special operation units had launched the anti-terrorist operation in the border province's Sahinbey district.

During the operation, security forces killed Daesh's alleged Gaziantep regional head, Mehmet Kadir Cabela, as well as capturing his wife and two children alive.

Cabela allegedly ran the group's terrorist activities in Gaziantep, providing logistical support and managing the group’s cells across the province, police said.

Security forces would continue their anti-terrorist operation for the sake of peace and security of the people of Gaziantep, the governor added.