Armed Attack in Van: 2 People Lose Their Lives

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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An armed attack was launched against a vehicle with long barreled weapons in the district of Özalp in Turkey's eastern province of Van yesterday (May 14). While the attack targeted the Vefa Social Support Group bringing food aid to the quarantined Eğribilen Neighborhood, two people have lost their lives and one person has been injured in the incident.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the Governor's Office of Van has released a statement about the incident and indicated that an armed attack with long barreled guns was carried out against the group who were on their way back from bring food aid to Eğribilen Neighborhood, which has been in quarantine as part of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) measures.

According to the statement of Van Governor's Office, the attack was conducted at around 12 p.m. yesterday, claiming the lives of one municipality worker and one civilian whom they picked up on their way back to the Özalp district center. One municipality worker has also been wounded in the incident, the Governor's Office of Van has further indicated.

"The injured has been in treatment at Özalp State Hospital. The vehicle that launched the attack fled the scene of incident. A wide-scale operation has been launched in the region to catch the assaulters," it has added.

'It was launched on their way back'

Mehmet Emin Bilmez, the Governor of Van, who has also been appointed as a trustee to metropolitan municipality, visited the wounded at hospital.

Addressing the reporters before leaving the hospital, Bilmez reminded the reporters that after two people tested positive for COVID-19 in Eğribilen Neighborhood, it was quarantined as of May 8.

The Vefa Social Support Group affiliated with the Özalp Sub-Governor's Office was targeted by the attack on their way back from bringing food aid to 70-household neighborhood, he added The injured municipality worker is reportedly in good health and is not in a life-threatening situation.

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu has also condemned the attack by sharing a brief message on his social media account.

HDP: It is unacceptable

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar have also condemned the attack in a written statement.

"We condemn the attack that claimed the lives of two people in the strongest possible terms," Buldan and Sancar have said and added, "This attack, which was conducted during coronavirus outbreak, when we need social solidarity the most, is in no way acceptable." (EKN/SD)