A cargo train traveling from Muş to the Erzincan province was struck by a mine in Bingöl, southeast Turkey, in the newest suspected Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attack.
The explosion that occurred at 11:30 am left four rail carts severely damaged, though no injuries or deaths were reported. The railway has been closed down while security forces search for the militants who fled the scene.
Thursday’s incident was the third mine attack to have struck trains in the past month as deadly clashes continue to cause turmoil in Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish southeast.
On July 30th, the Trans-Asia train traveling from Ankara to Tehran was struck by a land mine. Also in Bingöl, on August 9, a train carrying cargo and passengers was the target. All incidents ended with no casualties or injuries.
The PKK has waged an armed separatist war against Turkey for over 30 years, resulting in more than 40,000 casualties, and until late July, had maintained a rocky truce with Ankara since 2013.
source: BGN