PKK TERROR ATTACK IN MALATYA

UNCLAS ANKARA 00728 E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PINS TU SUBJECT: PKK TERROR ATTACK IN MALATYA -------------- THIS MSG ORIGINATED FROM AMCONSUL ADANA REPLY DIRECTLY TO AMCONSUL ADANA -------------- QUOTE ¶1. THE PKK ATTEMPTED YESTERDAY TO EXPAND ITS TERROR CAMPAIGN TO MALATYA. ¶2. TURKISH DAILY NEWSPAPERS REPORT THAT A SINGLE TERRORIST, APPARENTLY INTENT ON STAGING A ONE-MAN SUICIDE ATTACK ON SECURITY HEADQUARTERS, WAS FOILED BEFORE HE COULD CARRY OUT HIS ATTACK WHEN HE DROPPED A MAGAZINE FROM HIS KALASHNIKOV ON THE STREET. HAVING LOST THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE, HE RETREATED TO THE 6TH FLOOR OF THE RAILWAY WORKERS' UNION BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SECURITY OFFICE, AND OPENED FIRE AT THE SECURITY BUILDING. ¶3. DURING THE STANDOFF, WHICH LASTED FOUR HOURS, A BUILDING GUARD WAS KILLED, AND A POLICEMAN AND A PASSER-BY WERE WOUNDED. THE SIEGE ENDED WITH THE POLICE KILLING THE TERRORIST, WHO WAS FOUND TO HAVE HAD A KALASHNIKOV RIFLE, TWO PISTOLS, 150 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION, AND GRENADES WITH HIM. ¶4. MALATYA SECURITY OFFICIALS TOLD CONSULATE THAT THE TERRORIST HAS NOT YET BEEN IDENTIFIED, BUT APPARENTLY WAS OPERATING ALONE. NEVERTHELESS, SEVERAL OTHER SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AS POSSIBLE CO-CONSPIRATORS. ¶5. COMMENT: MALATYA, WHICH IS RELATIVELY PROSPEROUS COMPARED TO OTHER AREAS OF THE SOUTHEAST, HAS FOR SOME TIME BEEN OUTSIDE THE AREA OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY. THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR OPERATION DIRECTED AGAINST MALATYA IN OVER A YEAR. END COMMENT. WARREN A92011 UNQUOTE BARKLEY