Turkish soldier martyred in Black Sea region

By Muhammet Celik

GUMUSHANE, Turkey (AA) - A Turkish soldier was martyred and another injured in an armed attack in a town in the Black Sea region on Sunday, officials said.

Gunmen opened fire on an army vehicle in Torul, a town around 20 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of provincial capital Gumushane, the governor’s office said in a statement. One of the soldiers later died in hospital.

Following a visit to the hospital, Governor Yucel Yavuz told reporters that terrorists had been active in the area for more than a month. “A large scale operation has been launched to catch the perpetrators,” he said.

He did not name the group thought to be responsible but the PKK terrorist organization is the main suspect, despite it usually operating in southern Turkey.

* Diyar Guldogan contributed to this story from Ankara.