4 killed in election clash in Southeastern Turkey

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Four people were killed and nine others injured in an armed clash during an election campaign of a delegation from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the southeastern Turkish province of Sanliurfa on Thursday.

The attack occurred when the AKP delegation, led by lawmaker Ibrahim Halil Yildiz, was visiting local shopkeepers at Suruc district of Sanliurfa province, Dogan News Agency reported.

Ahmet Yildiz, a brother of Ibrahim Yildiz, was among those killed and his four other brothers were injured, Turkish Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya confirmed.

Police detained nearly 10 suspects and have brought the situation under control

"This is a grave event. No matter what the cause is, nothing matters more than human life," Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.

Yildirim said that the suspects are "sympathizers of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)," citing preliminary information from the police.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the PKK of being behind the armed attack. "This incident is an obvious example depicting the PKK's strategy to grow with the Kurds' blood," he said.

Presidential advisor Ibrahim Kalin condemned the "heinous attack", saying "the incident will be investigated and the perpetrators will be brought to justice."

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the AKP delegation was targeted in "an attack planned before the visit."

AKP spokesperson Mahir Unal condemned the attackers and called for restraint to all his party members and voters in Suruc.

(Top photo: Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim at a press conference. /Reuters Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency