Turkey: Bombing in Izmir province August 31

Event

Seven people were injured after a bomb, placed in a garbage container, detonated at around 07:40 (local time) on Thursday, August 31, in Buca district, located in the western province of Izmir. The device detonated when a shuttle bus carrying prison guards was passing by.

No group has yet claimed responsibility and local police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack. Kurdish militants, notably the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), are known to carry out attacks against Turkish security personnel, although they typically carry out attacks in the southeast of the country and in major cities.

Context

The security situation in Turkey remains precarious due to a resurgence of violence in recent years.

Since 2015, clashes between Kurdish militants, notably the PKK, and government security forces have increased after a ceasefire fell apart. The PKK, formed in the late 1970s, has waged a three decade insurgency calling for an independent Kurdish state within Turkey. It is regarded as a terrorist organization by the EU, Turkey, and the US.

Furthermore, a series of deadly attacks launched by jihadist militants have struck Turkey since the country's intervention in northern Syria against the Islamic State.

Finally, the security situation in Turkey remains generally tense amid a national state of emergency that was declared by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on July 20, 2016, following an attempted coup d'état by members of the armed forces.

Advice

The threat of terrorism remains present throughout Turkey. Individuals in Izmir province are advised to keep abreast of the situation, remain vigilant, report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities, and all potential protests.