Massive provocation: Twin explosions at HDP rally
DİYARBAKIR (DİHA) - At the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) elections rally in the main Kurdish city of Diyarbakır, two explosions killed one, wounded at least 20.
With just two days to go until Turkey's June 7 election, hundreds of thousands were out at the massive HDP rally in Diyarbakır's İstasyon Square. As HDP General Co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş was preparing to take to the stage, an explosion took place, followed immediately by a second.
The first explosion took place on one side of the square, near the Ofis district, and has been reported as an explosion in a transformer. The second came from a handcart found in the rally area.
The crowd attempted to open a corridor to transport the wounded out of the area. Armored police vehicles opened fire on the people with tear gas and pressurized water. Some took part in a massive march in protest against the explosions and put up barricades.
The HDP called for the people to leave the square calmly in case of another explosion.
With police blocking the crowd's exit from the area and armored vehicles positioned around the square, the rally area is still not empty.
(cm/nt)
