Police Sued for Not Preventing ISIS Attack

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14 police officers and commanders from Diyarbakır Security Directorate have been sued over “neglect of duty” for not having prevented the bomb attack launched by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on meeting organized by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakır.

CLICK - Suspect Charged With Aiding ISIS Released

In the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s indictment, Burhan Gök tried in the main case is defined as an “ISIS member” and who launched the attack. Gök was released in the main trial.

Five people had lost their lives in the attack on June 5, 2015, two days before the general election.

Burhan Gök was released without his phone being examined. In the lawsuit brought against the police, it wasn’t mentioned why the phone wasn’t examined by the prosecutor’s office or police. However, in the indictment prepared against the police, Gök’s name was included among the figures who “carried out the attack”.

Court committee member judge had opposed the release decision which was “issued without examining the evidence”. 

"No search for explosive was made despite order"

The indictment stated that police didn't carry out a search for explosive around the meeting area despite a written order:

"Despite the written order issued by Diyarbakır Security Directorate on June 4, 2015 to search for explosive and for precautions to be takne, no search was carried out in Farabi Anadolu Religious Vocational High School garden where one of the suspects hid the explosive.

"Wtihin this scope, it is determined that the defendants neglected their duty by not fulfilling their duty in terms of preventing the terror attack".

Demand of “discharge from civil service” for police officers

The defendant police officers face up to 2 years in prison over “malpractice”.

Besides, it was demanded that the defendants be “discharged from civil service” due to Turkish Penal Code Article 53.

Verdict of non-prosecution was issued for five police officers who were investigated over “malpractice”. (AS/TK)