Turkish Lieutenant Killed As Mine Planted By Terrorists Explodes

A Turkish lieutenant was killed on Saturday after a land mine believed to have been planted by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists in eastern Turkey exploded.

Two people, a civilian and a member of the military, were also wounded in the blast in Erzurum-Kars highway, news reports said.

The slain soldier was part of a military unit inspecting the area for mines after the PKK members had set up barricades on the inter-cityhighway in Kağızman district of Kars provincelate on Friday, stopping vehicles and holding dozens of passengers for a couple of hours. The passengers were released after terrorists set several vehicles to fire and seized their phones.

Troops from Erzurum, Iğdır and Kars were dispatched to the area after it was found out that the terrorists had placed mines inside some of the vehicles after taking away their keys and on a nearby bridge.
News reports said the PKK had set up barricades in the same part of the highway10 days ago. Authorities on Saturdayclosed part of thehighway between Kağızman and Karakurtto traffic due to increased security risks. (Cihan/Today’s Zaman)