Turkey: IED detonation kills four in Diyarbakir September 12

Event

An improvised explosive device (IED) detonation reportedly killed four people and wounded 13 others in Diyarbakir province on Thursday, September 12. The blast struck a minibus transporting civilians between Diyarbakir and Muş province, causing the bus to overturn and resulting in the casualties. As of Thursday, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast; however, local officials have attributed the attack to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Similar attacks are possible in Diyarbakir province over the near term.

Context

Turkey has been faced with a Kurdish insurgency since 1984, spearheaded by the PKK and concentrated in the southeast. The armed conflict resumed in 2015 following the dissolution of a ceasefire established between the government and the PKK in 2013. The conflict has left over 40,000 people dead since 1984 and associated violence continues to pose a significant security risk in southeastern Turkey.

Advice

Individuals in Diyarbakir are advised to monitor the situation, avoid the area, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home government.