News   /   Turkey

Turkish police kill suspected bomber in Gaziantep

The photo shows ambulances at the site of a gun battle in Gaziantep, Turkey, January 10, 2017. (Photo by Anadolu Agency)

Turkish police have shot dead a would-be bomber who tried to make his way into the main police station in the southern city of Gaziantep near the Syrian border.

The Gaziantep governor's office said in a statement that there was "an armed attack" on the security checkpoint outside the police headquarters, but police responded immediately and fatally shot the suspect.

A police officer was lightly wounded in the shootout, the statement added.

Turkish broadcaster NTV said "terrorists attempted to enter the police building," prompting officers to open fire.

"One terrorist was neutralized and the other two are on the run," NTV further said quoting eyewitnesses.

Police officers surround the dead body of an assailant after he was killed during an attempted attack on a police station in Gaziantep, Turkey, January 10, 2017. (Photo by AP)

Meanwhile, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus confirmed that one assailant had been killed while a second was still at large.

The state-run Anadolu Agency also said Turkish bomb disposal squads were deployed to the scene as the dead attacker had a bomb on him.

Turkey is on edge following a series of deadly attacks that have been blamed on Kurdish militants and the Daesh terrorist group.

On January 1, a gun attack on a nightclub in the city of Istanbul killed 39 people, including 27 foreigners. Daesh claimed responsibility for the incident.

Four days later, an explosive-laden car blew up in front of the main courthouse in the city of Izmir, leaving a policeman and a court worker dead. The Turkish government blamed the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for the attack.


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku