PKK Militants Allegedly Blow Up Section of South Caucasus Pipeline in Turkey

Suspected Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants have blown up a section of the South Caucasus Pipeline in the Turkish province of Kars.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline runs form the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan to Turkey.

The pipeline is vital for the EU as it is projected for inclusion in the Southern Gas Corridor, which plans to supply natural gas from the Caspian Sea to Bulgaria and the rest of Europe.

Therefore, it is vital in ensuring the energy security of the EU, diversifying its gas supplies and reducing its dependence on Russia.

The explosion occurred late on Monday and around 20 people took part in the attack, BGNES news agency informs.

According to a local television, the transport of gas has been halted and the fire is being extinguished.

Security forces have been dispatched to the place of the incident and all nearby areas are being controlled by the gendarmerie and the military.

There is information that an exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces is taking place.

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