JINHA

COLEMÊRG - Thousands fled their homes in the Kurdish town of Hakkari, Turkey as police and soldiers launched an attack yesterday.

Yesterday morning, Turkish soldiers began deploying in high numbers in the town of Hakkari in Northern Kurdistan (in Turkey). As soldiers opened fire at random in the town center, shopkeepers closed shop in the downtown. Police then poured into the streets of the Kıran and Gazi neighborhoods. Thousands of residents of the two neighborhoods fled to nearby neighborhoods.

Local sources said that one person from every family remained in the evacuated areas to stand watch as police attacks continued. Starting at 11:00 p.m., hundreds of heavily armed police raided the neighborhoods with explosives. The nearby military base supported the operation with mortar fire.

Thousands of Hakkari residents spent the night outside their homes.

(at-mc/zd/fk/cm)