Erdogan slams deadly truck bomb in SE Turkey

By Burcu Calik

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced Friday's deadly PKK attack in the southeastern province of Sirnak which left 11 police officers martyred.

"Turkey will never allow these terrorists to realize their dirty aims," Erdogan said in a statement.

At least 11 police officers were martyred when PKK terrorists detonated a bomb-laden truck near a checkpoint, the regional governor's office said.

The office also said the blast injured 75 officers and three civilians.

Erdogan said such attacks at a time when Turkey was fighting against terror threats inside and outside of its borders would only increase country's determination.

"There is no question that our fight with terror will succeed," he added.

The president also offered his condolences to the families of the martyred officers.

The PKK -- also listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, more than 600 security personnel have been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists have been killed.