Attack on HDP İzmir office: Party worker Deniz Poyraz killed

* Photos: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

A person named O.G. raided and set the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İzmir Provincial Organization Building on fire today (June 17). A worker of the party named Deniz Poyraz (40) has lost her life in the attack. Poyraz was cooking and cleaning at the HDP İzmir Provincial office.

In a statement released by the İzmir Governor's Office later in the day, it has also been indicated that Deniz Poyraz was killed in the attack. According to the statement of the office, "the person named O.G., who resigned while working as a health worker, entered the HDP provincial office on the second floor at around 11.05 a.m. and shot party worker D.P. to death."

The assailant has been taken into custody. 

As reported by Cumhuriyet newspaper, held in detention at the Counterrerrorism Department, the assailant has said in his first statement, "I don't have any links to anyone. I entered the building because I hate the PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party]. I shot around randomly."

'They killed my daughter for no reason'

Police prevented the family of Poyraz, the deceased worker, from entering the building. Her mother said, "They killed my daughter for no reason."

Bugün İzmir'de Deniz Poyraz yoldaşımız İzmir İl Binamızı 24 saat gözetleyen polislerin gözetimde katledildi. Eli silahlı saldırgan engellenmedi, çocuğu katledilen ailemizin içeriye girişi engelleniyor. Bu görüntüleri hiç kimse unutmasın! #HDPhalktır pic.twitter.com/RnDbVwMrwg

— HDP (@HDPgenelmerkezi) June 17, 2021

'Deniz Poyraz has been killed'

The HDP Central Office announced the attack on social media:

"An assailant with a shotgun has attacked our office in İzmir. One of our party members was in the office during the incident. The perpetrator and the instigators of the attack are clear. The government will be responsible for any negative consequences."

An assailant with a shotgun has attacked our office in İzmir. One of our party members was in the office during the incident. The perpetrator and the instigators of the attack are clear. The government will be responsible for any negative consequences. https://t.co/YGgO3lpbH5

— HDP English (@HDPenglish) June 17, 2021

The party stated, "In the face of this provocation and heinous attack in İzmir, HDP's people are gathering at our provincial building in Konak. While every attack will make the cowardly attackers smaller, they will make people lay claim to our party more. HDP is the people."

Speaking to bianet, Abdulkadir Baydur from the HDP İzmir Provincial Organization also said, "We think that one friend of ours has been wounded. There is an ambulance waiting in front of the building."

Speaking to bianet, HDP MP Murat Çepni has said, "Our woman friend Deniz Poyraz has been killed." He has added that "it is not the first time such an attack happens, the İzmir Provincial organization was attacked before." According to Çepni, "There were several attempted provocations. The attack happened even though the party building is opposite to the police station."

"It is an organized attack," Çepni has stated. "We see that the government is trying to trigger racism and nationalist through our party. The government is thinking of getting out of the deadlock it has found itself in only in this way. At this point, the Palace iteself and the Ministry of Interior are responsible for the attack," HDP MP Çepni has indicated further.

Noting that they will make the necessary legal applications, Çepni has called on all peoples to lay claim to the party.

'No intervention for a long time'

Our friend, Deniz Poyraz, was murdered in the attack on our İzmir district building. The instigator and abettor of this brutal attack is the AKP-MHP government and the Ministry of Interior which constantly targets our party and our members. #HDPhalktır pic.twitter.com/LewsXGu0rB

— HDP English (@HDPenglish) June 17, 2021

In a written statement made by the HDP following the attack, it has been noted that "the HDP has been targeted by the ruling party and the Interior Ministry and some families have been brought in front of the HDP provincial buildings with the aim of provocation for months."

The statement of the party has indicated that "no intervention was made against the assailant who opened fire and set the building on fire for a long time." Referring to the "provocation in the Kobanî Plot Case in Sincan yesterday," the party has stated that "the aim and the message of the attack carried out today is obvious." The HDP has stated that "the instigator and abettor of this brutal attack is the and the Ministry of Interior which constantly targets the HDP and its members."

People gathering in front of party building

Hearing the attack, the people have started gathering in front of the HDP İzmir office in Konak district, where the incident happened. The attack has also been denounced on social media.

'Complaints have remained inconclusive'

Speaking to journalist İrfan Aktan about the attack, HDP Central Executive Board member Mahfuz Güleryüz said, "As far as I have been informed, an armed person raided the HDP Provincial Organization building. Taking the HDP worker inside hostage, he set the building on fire."

Saying that they are waiting for the police to intervene into the situation, Güleryüz noted that "they have been targeted through a person brought in front of their building for months; even though they filed complaints to the authorities, they have been unable to get any results."

"This attack was waiting to happen," he said. (EMK/PT/AS/SD)