Car-Bomb Attack in Diyarbakır, Broadcast Ban Imposed

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An attack has been carried out against the Provincial Gendarmerie Command in Hani of Diyarbakır by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members through a bomb-laden car.

One soldier has been killed and 47 persons injured including 39 soldiers in the attack.

Detonated in front of the building

According to the reports of the newspapers, the PKK members detonated the bomb-laden car in front of the Provincial Gendarmerie Command building yesterday (April 11) evening.

The surrounding buildings have been damaged due to the massive blast. Clashes have occurred following the explosion.

Many ambulances and rescue squads have been delivered to the district from Diyarbakır.

The wounded have have been delivered to Diyarbakır Military Hospital following the initial treatment in Hani State Hospital.

Also the wives and children of some gendarmerie staff in the Military Mass Housing are among the wounded.

 Search and rescue

The bigger part of the Gendarmerie building has collapsed and the surrounding buildings have suffered severe damages.

National Medical Rescue Teams (UMKE) referred to the region have conducted search and rescue activities in the severely damaged buildings.

The explosion has also caused disruption of power, telephone and internet supply.

Statement from General Staff

The statement made on the official website of the General Staff at 8 a.m. this morning is as follows:

“On April 11, 2016 Monday at around 11.10 p.m. a gallant fellow soldier lost his life and 39 others, six acquaintances of these and two civilians  injured over the detonation of a bomb-laden vehicle in front of the Diyarbakır-Hani Provincial Gendarmerie Command building by members of the separatist terrorist organization. The wounded have immediately been delivered to the hospital and their treatments continue”.

Broadcast ban

Hani Criminal Court of Justice has decided to impose a broadcast ban on the investigation into the attack.

In the statement made by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), it has been announced that “the Hani Criminal Court of Justice has decided with regards to the bomb attack in Hani on April 11, Monday, all kinds of news, interviews, critics and broadcast of similar contents within the investigation file have been banned till the investigation is completed.

Journalists have been deterred

The gendarmerie building has been covered with a white canvas, a huge flag of Turkey has been hung on the building and the region has been closed to traffic. The security forces continuing examinations in the region have deterred journalists from taking images from the scene and have been detracted from the area. (AS/DG)

* Photograph: Abdullah Coşkun – Diyarbakır / Anadolu News Agency