Turkey: '40-42 terrorists' killed in Cizre says governor

SIRNAK, Turkey

The governorship of Turkey’s southeastern Sirnak Province has said that around 40 PKK terrorists were killed during the recent curfews in Cizre.

"Seven terrorists were found dead, 17 organization members were detained. According to the analysis of our relevant departments it is estimated that the (PKK) organization lost 40-42 [people] during this period," Governor Ali Ihsan Su told reporters Thursday.

The governor said that 1,150 kilograms of explosives and 39 bombs were destroyed, while 45 ditches and barricades were removed.

A curfew was declared twice in Sirnak province this month. The first eight-day curfew came into force between Sept. 4 and Sept. 12. The second curfew was declared only 36 hours later, and stayed in force between Sept. 13 and Sept. 14.

The governor said that terrorists attacked the police 21 times with rockets, 19 times with hand-made bombs and twice with concealed bombs.

"In operations, 25 policemen were injured [and] seven armored vehicles were damaged," Su added.

The governor said strict attention was paid during curfew to provide people's basic needs, especially medical services.

"A total of 2,252 patients applied to our Cizre State Hospital and their treatments were performed. During this period 251 emergency calls came to the 112 emergency call center. However, [health teams] could not reach 68 of them due to terrorist attacks on ambulances, concealed bombs, barricades and ditches opened by terrorists [PKK]."

The governor said that enough supermarkets, bakeries and pharmacies managed to stay open during the curfew to meet people's basic needs.

He said that 20 electrical transformers were destroyed due to terrorist actions.

Su claimed that the PKK had attacked civilians, including old people, pregnant women and children.

The governor also accused the Cizre Municipality of breaching its duty, saying it had failed to clean the streets after ditches and barricades were cleared of bombs and explosives.