A bomb exploded as a bus carrying police was passing by in the southern province of Mersin on Oct. 17, wounding a dozen officers, officials said.

The blast occurred on a main road in the provice, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ said 17 police officers and one civilian were wounded in the attack.

He added that it was a “terror attack” according to initial findings.

Three prosecutors were assigned to investigate, a local prosecutor had stated.

Several police officers, ambulances and firefighters were sent to the scene, the agency reported earlier.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has targeted police in similar attacks in the past.