Turkey blames PKK rebels for government attack that injured official

DERIK , Turkey, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Turkish security officials said a Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, rebel group attack injured a district governor in the southeastern Mardin province.

Thursday's explosion injured Derik Gov. Muhammet Fatih Safiturk, who was taken to the Kiziltepe State Hospital for treatment, Anadolu Agency reported. It is unclear how many others were injured.

Derik is a predominately Kurdish district in the Anatolia region. A security operation to capture the suspected militants was launched.

The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Violence tied to the PKK, which is fighting for more Kurdish autonomy in the region, has left more than 40,000 people dead since the 1980s.

The rebel group in 2015 ended a two-year cease-fire. Hundreds of civilians, Turkish security personnel and PKK militants have died since.