Bomb explosion wounds 17 police officers

A LEFTIST organisation claimed responsibility for planting a bomb which exploded yesterday in the Turkish capital, wounding 17 police officers, the interior minister said.

The explosion occurred when a bomb expert, wearing no protective gear, opened a bomb-packed bag outside a government training centre for prosecutors and judges. Many of the policemen injured had gathered to see the device being defused.

The policemen had arrived at the scene after a previous blast shattered the windows of the training centre. They then found a bag they suspected might contain more explosives and carried it outside to examine it.

Turkey’s Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said a leftist organisation had claimed responsibility, but he refused to name it.

“Let’s not contribute to their propaganda by giving their name,” he said.

It was the second time judiciary officials have came under attack in as many months.

The outlawed Marxist group, Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front, or DHKP-C, claimed responsibility for an Istanbul highway bombing directed at a bus carrying prosecutors.

Five people, including two prosecutors, were injured in that blast in June.