Explosion at police compound in Diyarbakır confirmed to be terror attack: Interior minister

An explosion that occurred on April 11 at a police compound in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır was the result of a terror attack, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has said after initially saying it was an accident.

Speaking to private broadcaster Habertürk on April 12, Soylu said the attack that killed three people in the annex of the police headquarters in the central Bağlar district occurred after militants dug a tunnel under the complex before positioning explosives.

"The explosion occurred while an assistant technician was repairing an armored vehicle there. As of last night, it became clear that it is a terror attack. There are around 12 people slightly injured in hospitals right now but what is more, another assistant technician was rescued from the rubble but he was martyred. One police officer was also martyred there. It has been revealed that it was a terror attack," Soylu said.

Two civilian personnel, identified as Yunus Elaltunterin and Cengiz Tekin, and police officer Burhan Mercan were killed in the explosion that occurred under the repair shop of the compound.

"They [assailants] staged the attack through a tunnel dug from the outside. We scan our police buildings almost every month to prevent such a threat. In this case, they dug such a tunnel in a very short time. They staged the attack by placing explosives underground," Soylu added.

The minister had previously denied any external involvement in the attack, saying the repairs on a vehicle had produced the explosion.

The Diyarbakır Governor's Office stated on April 12 that around one ton of explosives, including RDX, ammonium nitrate, TNT and diesel, was used in the attack alongside a time-adjusted setup, according to criminal examinations....