PKK attack martyrs 11 police officers in SE Turkey

SIRNAK, Turkey

At least 11 police officers were martyred Friday when PKK terrorists detonated a truck bomb near a security checkpoint in the southeastern province of Sirnak, the regional governor's office said.

The office said the blast also injured 75 police officers and three civilians.

The terrorist attack took place at 06.45 a.m. (0345GMT) with a bomb-laden truck targeting a checkpoint some 50 meters from riot police unit headquarters in the town of Cizre, Sirnak, the governor's office added.

The blast caused extensive damage to the police building. Nearby houses and workplaces were also damaged.

Security forces are currently searching for the perpetrators.

Turkey’s Supreme Board of Radio and Television has banned all broadcasts about the deadly attack in the interest of public safety and the ongoing investigation.

In Washington, the White House condemned the attack "in the strongest terms," adding that if the PKK's claim of responsibility is "confirmed, this is just the latest in a deeply concerning trend of increasing violence by the PKK in Turkey.

"We remain steadfast in our support for Turkey, a NATO Ally and partner that continues to be afflicted by terrorist attacks indiscriminately targeting both security personnel and civilians," spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. "We are in close touch with Turkish authorities and reaffirm our commitment to work together with Turkey to confront the evil of terrorism."

Price also condemned yesterday's PKK attack on Republican People's Party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu's convoy.

The PKK -- also listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, more than 600 security personnel have been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists have been killed.