Three Deadly Explosions in Turkey ‘Revenge’ for Failed Coup - Erdogan

The three deadly bomb blasts across eastern Turkey are a revenge for last month’s failed coup, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Explosions blamed on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) killed five people in Elazig and three in Van earlier in the day, wounding more than 290 people in total. A third improvised explosive device attack on a patrol vehicle in Hizan killed five soldiers later Thursday.

"These attacks are a revenge for what happened on July 15," Erdogan said at a Union of NGOs of the Islamic World conference in remarks broadcast by TRT.

"The West never understood us, does not understand us and will never understand us in terms of the fight against the PKK," Erdogan said.

The US-based cleric’s movement blamed on last month’s failed coup in Turkey shared intelligence with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) separatist group in the latest string of deadly attacks, he said.

"The PKK has actually rekindled its attacks, and I believe that they are in contact with FETO [Fethullah Gulen’s movement] when they instigate these attacks," Erdogan said at a Union of NGOs of the Islamic World conference in remarks broadcast by TRT.

He claimed there is "no difference" between the PKK, FETO and Daesh terrorist group in his accusation that the groups share a similar objective in targeting Turkey.

"I think it is apparent that this is the case," Erdogan stressed.

He further added that the Syrian Kurdish self-defense units YPG threatened Turkey’s security, warning that "if need be, we will be engaging in the struggle" in the Arab republic.

Ankara accuses Gulen of orchestrating the attempted government overthrow on July 15 and is seeking his extradition from the United States.