Kulp District Co-Mayors Arrested, Trustee Appointed

* Photograph: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Taken into custody as part of an investigation launched into the explosion that claimed the lives of seven people and wounded 10 others in the district of Kulp in Diyarbakır on September 12, Kulp Co-Mayors Mehmet Fatih Taş and Fatma Ay have been arrested together with three others.

Detained for four days, Kulp Co-Mayor Mehmet Fatih Taş, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Kulp District Organization Chair Abidin Karaman, Civil Works Director of Kulp Municipality Şener Aktaş, Kulp Co-Mayor Fatma Ay and Mehmet Emin Ay were referred to Kulp Courthouse after the related formalities were completed at the police department.

Deposing to the prosecutor's office, five people, including Kulp Co-Mayors Taş and Ay, have been arrested by the Kulp Penal Court of Peace.

Kulp Disrtict Governor Mustafa Gözlet has been appointed as a trustee to replace Kulp District Co-Mayor Mehmet Fatih Taş. In a statement released by the Governorship of Diyarbakır, it has been indicated that there are five separate investigations and one prosecution against Taş.

What happened?

An explosive previously planted on the ground exploded while a vehicle carrying forest workers were passing in Ağaçkorur village in Kulp in Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakır on September 12.

It was initially announced that four people lost their lives and 13 people, seven of whom were in serious condition, were wounded in the explosion. The death toll has then risen to seven and wounded to ten.

As part of the investigation launched into the attack, a warrant was issued against four people after it was reported that shortly before the improvised explosive exploded, a vehicle of the municipality was seen in the vicinity. Accordingly, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Kulp District Organization Chair Abidin Karaman, Civil Works Director of Kulp Municipality Şener Aktaş and Kulp Co-Mayor Mehmet Fatih Taş were detained on the day of incident. With the detention of Mehmet Emin Ay and Fatma Ay, the number of the detained has increased to four as of September 16. (TP/SD)