Two police officers martyred in eastern Turkey

A handmade explosive planted by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was detonated in the eastern Turkish province of Van.

Two policemen were martyred and another injured during the blast in Hacıbekir neighborhood of İpekyolu town.

The incident occurred at 09:30 am after security forces received a tip that there was an explosive booby trap in the region.

The blast occurred while security forces were attempting the destroy the explosive.

An air operation was conducted following the incident to in an attempt to capture the terrorists.

Turkey has been conducting both air and ground operations against PKK terrorists in southeastern Turkey and Northern Iraq since July 2015, when the PKK took up arms again, ending a ceasefire with Ankara.

More than 5,000 terrorists have been neutralized both in Turkey and Northern Iraq, according to the recent official Turkish figures.