Turkey: At least 2 dead, dozens maimed, hundreds injured (photos + video)
Author: newsroom | Published: June 6, 2015
Tragedy at the pro-Kurdish protest rally due to two explosions
Two blasts at a Kurdish rally in Diyarbakir, Turkey, killed at least two people, and injured more than 184 protestors of which 25 are in a serious condition. Turkish newspaper, Today’s Zaman, places the number of dead at four, whereas Diha newsagency speaks of 350 injured.
Initial reports blamed a faulty power transformer at the rally but it is still unclear if the explosions were accidental or an attack. “It is not yet clear whether this was an attack or an accident. Whatever caused it, we will find out,” said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu while addressing supporters at a gathering at Gaziantep.
People’s Democratic Party HDP Chairman Selahattin Demirtas called for calm during a live interview with CNN Turk. Friction in Turkey was caused as the HDP campaigns to be the first party of Kurdish origin to win seats in Turkish Parliament. Opinion polls show that it may get the numbers required to enter parliament. In the past, Kurdish MPs have managed to gain seats as independents.
During the election campaign, HDP supporters have clashed with nationalists and Demirtas said that his party has been the target of more than 70 violent attacks. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, former head of the AK Party, has accused the HDP of being a front for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that took arms in 1984.
The explosion took place just before the HDP leader was set to address the crowd. Footage following the explosions show confusion and people carrying the injured on stretchers as organizers announced that the explosion was due to a faulty power generator.
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