At least eight people died and 100 others were injured in an explosion in Turkey's Diyarbakir on Friday, AP reported. Officials suspect a vehicle bomb triggered the explosion. The incident follows the arrests of 11 lawmakers from the Peoples' Democratic Party, which has the support of the Kurdish and leftist population in the region. Two co-leaders, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, were also detained as part of a counter-terrorism investigation, BBC reported.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the deceased victims included two police officers, a technician and five civilians. Yildririm said one of the assailants also died in the attack, according to AP. State-run Anadolu Agency reported that the vehicle was loaded with explosives.
The Peoples' Democratic Party claims the arrests are part of the government's attempt to increase its own power within the country. A statement by the provincial governor’s office the involvement of members of the Kurdistan Workers party was suspected, The Guardian reported.
Turkey has been targeted by several bomb attacks over the past one year. The Kurdistan Workers Party has fought a three-decade-old insurgency in Turkey, which has claimed the lives of over 40,000 people. The Islamic State group has also targeted the country in its attacks.
A state of emergency has been imposed in the country since a failed coup in July. The emergency allows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government to bypass the parliament when drafting new laws and restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.
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