Turkey terror attack: Air strikes on Kurd militants after suspected PKK attack leaves five dead, 22 injured

Turkey’s air force has struck Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and Syria on Wednesday, local time, in an apparent retaliation for an attack at a key state-run defence company that killed five people and wounded more than 20 others.

Turkey’s defence ministry said more than 30 targets were “destroyed” in the aerial offensive, without providing details on the locations that were hit. It said “all kinds of precautions” were taken to prevent harm to civilians.

The strike came hours after suspected Kurdish militants set off explosives and opened fire at the aerospace and defence company TUSAS. The two attackers — a man and a woman — also were killed, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. At least 22 people, including seven security personnel, were injured during the attack.

Yerlikaya said the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, was believed to be behind the attack at the defence company. Defence Minister Yasar Guler also pointed the finger at the PKK.

“We give these PKK scoundrels the punishment they deserve every time. But they never come to their senses,” Guler said. “We will pursue them until the last terrorist is eliminated.”

Turkey regularly conducts airstrikes against the PKK — which has a foothold in Iraq — and against a Kurdish militia group in Syria that is affiliated with the militants.

There was no immediate statement from the PKK.

“I condemn this heinous terrorist attack,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a BRICS meeting in Russia.

Putin offered condolences. A U.S. Embassy statement said Washington “strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack.”

TUSAS designs, manufactures and assembles civilian and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and other defence industry and space systems. Its UAVs have been instrumental in Turkey gaining an upper hand in its fight against Kurdish militants both on its own territory and across the border in Iraq.

The terror attack occurred a day after the leader of Turkey’s far-right nationalist party that’s allied with Erdogan raised the possibility that the PKK’s imprisoned leader could be granted parole if he renounces violence and disbands his organization.

Abdullah Ocalan’s group has been fighting for autonomy in southeast Turkey in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people since the 1980s. It is considered a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies.

Turkish media said the assailants arrived Wednesday at an entry to the TUSAS complex, 28km from Turkey’s capital, in a taxi The assailants, carrying assault weapons, detonated an explosive device next to the taxi, causing panic and allowing them to enter.

One of the victims was identified as mechanical engineer Zahide Guclu, who had gone to the entrance to collect flowers sent by her husband.

The taxi driver was also killed by the assailants and his body was found in the trunk of the vehicle

After entering, the assailants were seen walking near the entrance to the building, opening fire at people who approached.

Witnesses said they heard gunfire and a loud explosion at the site.

Terrifying CCTV footage showed both a man and a woman carrying guns inside the building, threatening people approaching.

The vision shows the shocking size of the assault weapons used.

Police and military quickly stormed the surrounding area with government officials saying it was unclear if others were involved.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said two attackers were killed, adding that three of the injured are in critical condition.

“Two terrorists were neutralised in the terror attack on the TUSAS Ankara Kahramankazan site,” Yerlikaya said.

Turkish President Erdogan, alongside Russia’s Vladimir Putin at a BRICS conference in the Russian city of Kazan, also called it a terrorist attack.

“I condemn this vile terror attack and wish God’s mercy on our martyrs,” Mr said.

“No terrorist organisation, no evil focus targeting our security will be able to achieve their goals.”

Witnesses told Reuters that employees inside the building were taken by authorities to shelters and no one was permitted to leave for hours. They said the blasts they heard may have taken place at different exits as employees were leaving work for the day.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte condemned the attack and said the military alliance would stand with its ally Turkey. The European Union delegation in Turkey also condemned the attack.

- With Reuters