10 January 2016•Update: 10 January 2016
VAN, Turkey
A special-operations police officer has been martyred and 12 PKK terrorists killed in a shootout in eastern Turkey.
According to local security sources, Van Provincial Police Department units launched an operation upon receiving intelligence of PKK terrorists staying at an address in the Edremit district of eastern Van province early Sunday.
The officer was martyred in clashes which erupted when terrorists opened fire on police.
Speaking to reporters, Van Governor Ibrahim Tasyapan stated that the operation was mounted at 5.30 a.m. Turkish local time [0330 GMT].
"The police was tracking the group, but we also received related notices from our citizens. I thank the people of Van for their sensitivity," he said.
The governor also said that two special-forces troops were also slightly wounded in the clash, and that the incident was being investigated by a prosecutor.
Sources added that 30 grenades, 12 long-barreled weapons and a machine gun were seized during a search of the premises.
According to the latest figures announced by Turkish General Staff on Saturday, around 307 PKK members have been killed in counter-terrorism operations since Dec. 15 in southeastern Diyarbakir and Sirnak provinces.
Last month, the Turkish president said more than 3,100 PKK terrorists had been killed in Turkey and northern Iraq. Around 300 soldiers, police and civilians have lost their lives since the conflict reignited in late July 2015, according to officials.
