Attack on İYİ Party İstanbul head

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İYİ (Good) Party İstanbul Chair Buğra Kavuncu was attacked yesterday (August 20) following an interview on Halk TV.

Security camera footage shows that a person punches Kavuncu after he leaves the broadcaster's building. The attacker runs away as Kavuncu falls to the ground.

Speaking to Halk TV after the attack, Kavuncu recalled that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan praised an attempted attack İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener in May and implied that more would follow. "So, this is not an individual case," he said. 

Akşener condemned the attack on Twitter, saying, "You won't be able to silence good people."

Senior figures from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), the allies of the İYİ Party, reacted to the attack on Twitter.

"Dear Buğra Kavuncu was attacked. Unfortunately, this is what the palace is right now. Trolls, swears, slanders, lies and attacks," wrote CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. "Erdoğan becomes more nervous as he sees opinion polls."

İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu said those who are responsible for the attack should be caught and put on trial as soon as possible.

CHP İstanbul Chair Cana Kaftancıoğlu wrote, "We will hold accountable the understanding that incited the attack more than those who attacked!" (DŞ/VK)