Two civilians killed in PKK attacks in eastern Turkey

HAKKARI/TUNCELI/KARS/SIRNAK, Turkey

At least two people have been killed in terrorist PKK attacks in Turkey's eastern provinces, official security sources said Saturday.

In the first incident, PKK terrorists reportedly blocked the Tuhi Bridge on the Semdinli-Yuksekova main road near the village of Yufkali in the southeastern Hakkari province late Friday.

Terrorists had stopped two vehicles, including a truck and set them ablaze after forcing their drivers out.

Celal Inan -- driver of a pick-up truck passing by – realized that there was a blockade and reportedly tried to escape but was killed when terrorists shot at his car with long-barreled weapons, official sources said.

Security forces have launched an operation in the area to nab the attackers.

In a similar incident Saturday, PKK terrorists blocked the Sariskamis-Erzurum highway in the northeastern province of Kars, setting four trucks on fire, police said.

The PKK terrorists stopped the trucks, forced the drivers out, and stole their mobile phones before setting the vehicles on fire, they said.

The road was closed to traffic for security, and an operation had been launched to catch the terrorists, they added.

Meanwhile, a woman, who was critically wounded during Friday's PKK attack on a police station in the eastern Tunceli province, died at Tunceli State Hospital Saturday.

According to hospital sources, 32-year-old Ayten Gunhan succumbed to her wounds at the intensive care unit.

Her body was sent to Malatya Forensic Medicine Institute for autopsy.

A PKK terrorist was killed and another was wounded in Tunceli in an exchange of fire with security forces in an attack on Sehit Nahit Bulut Police Department in Mogultay neighborhood’s Cumhuriyet Street early Friday.

The clash left police officer Murat Savas Kale dead while a civilian was critically wounded. A member of the medical staff and a police officer were also slightly injured.

In a separate incident, two soldiers were wounded in a PKK attack in Turkey's southeastern Sirnak province Saturday night.

Terrorists had attacked several gendarmerie units simultaneously with heavy arms in Sirnak's Beytussebap district.

The wounded were taken to Sirnak Military Hospital.