Turkey Asks Greece to Extradite 8 Military Staff
Greece's foreign ministry says it has received an official extradition request from Turkey seeking the return of eight Turkish military personnel who fled to northern Greece by helicopter after an abortive coup in Turkey.
The ministry said Thursday it received the request Wednesday and forwarded it to Greece's justice ministry the same day.
The eight — six helicopter pilots and two engineers — deny involvement in Turkey's July 15 attempted coup. They flew to the northeastern Greek city of Alexandroupolis the following morning and have applied for asylum in Greece, saying they fear they would not face a fair trial if returned to Turkey and that their lives would be endangered.
They received suspended sentences in Greece for illegally entering the country, and are due for asylum application interviews Friday.
Turkish officials say the injury toll in two car bombings targeting police stations in eastern Turkey has reached at least 219.
A car bombing attack on a police station in the eastern province of Van killed a police officer and two civilians late Wednesday. At least 73 people — 53 civilians and 20 police officers — were wounded, official said.
Early Thursday, another car bombing hit police headquarters in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig. Murat Zorluoglu, the governor for Elazig, said the blast killed at least three police officers and wounded 146 people. At least 14 of them were in serious condition.
Turkish officials and state-run media say two car bombings targeting police stations in eastern Turkey have killed at least six people and wounded over 120.
A car bombing attack on a police station in the eastern province of Van killed a police officer and two civilians late Wednesday. Dozens of other people, including some 20 police officers, were wounded.
Early Thursday, another car bombing hit police headquarters in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency says the blast killed at least three police office officers and wounded close to 100 other people.
Officials say two car bombings targeted police stations in Turkey, killing three people and wounding dozens.
A car bombing attack on a police station in the eastern province of Van killed a police officer and two civilians late Wednesday. Dozens of other people, including some 20 police officers, were wounded.
Authorities blamed that attack on the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which has launched a campaign of car bombings targeting police stations or roadside bomb attacks on police vehicles. Last week, PKK commander Cemil Bayik threatened increased attacks against police in Turkish cities.
Hours later, another car bombing hit police headquarters in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig, wounding several people, an official said.
Clashes between the PKK and Turkey's security forces resumed last year after a fragile peace process collapsed. Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.
