Child injured after PKK supporters attack Turkish voters in France
A voter casts his vote for Türkiye's parliamentary and presidential elections at the Consulate General of Türkiye in Huerth near Cologne, Thursday, April 27, 2023. (AP File Photo)


A child heading to the polling station set up by Türkiye's diplomatic mission in Marseille, France, was injured after an attack by armed supporters of the PKK terrorist group, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday.

Turks living in France who went to the polls in the port city of Marseille on Monday were attacked by terrorist PKK supporters, resulting in the injury, about which no details have emerged yet.

A video shared on social media showed the assault, where PKK supporters armed with sticks attacked Turkish citizens, including women and children, waiting in queue for their turn to cast their votes.

Security forces used tear gas to put an end to the assault and arrested the attackers.

The sources noted that security forces, the Turkish Embassy in Paris, and the Marseille Consulate are taking all measures to ensure Turks' safety at the polls.

Türkiye's ambassador to France, Ali Onaner, visited the site on Tuesday morning, the sources said.

In its more than 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

Turkish expatriates in 73 countries are casting their votes for the presidential and parliamentary elections that will be held across Türkiye on May 14.

Some 3.41 million people are expected to cast their votes abroad, including nearly 278,000 first-time voters.

In France, nearly 400,000 Turks are expected to vote, among an 800,000-strong community.