6 People Taken into Custody in Relation with Attack Against CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu

* Photograph: Metin Aktas – Ankara / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Six people have been taken into custody in relation with the lynch attempt against main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu at a funeral in the Neighborhood of Akkuzulu in Çubuk, Ankara yesterday (April 21). The funeral was held for Yener Kırıkçı, a soldier who died during the military operations in Turkey-Iraq border in Hakkari.

Among the ones who were taken into custody as part of the investigation is also O.S., who allegedly punched CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu in the face. O.S., who could not be found in his house yesterday, was caught today in Sivrihisar, Eskişehir and taken into custody.

AKP Spokesperson: Attacker is an AKP member

Sharing a message on his Twitter account, Ömer Çelik, the Spokesperson of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has stated,

"It has been seen that O.S., who was among the ones who attacked Kılıçdaroğlu, is a member of our party. Our Ankara Provincial Executive Board has decided to refer O.S. to the Provincial Disciplinary Board, requesting his final discharge from the party."

Attacker from the same neighborhood

CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was attacked with kicks and punches by a group of people in Çubuk, Ankara yesterday after attending the funeral ceremony of a soldier in Akkuzulu Neighborhood. Taken to a safe house in the vicinity by his guards and security forces, Kılıçdaroğlu was taken out of the house in an armored vehicle after one and a half hours.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the attempted lynch. As part of the investigation, it has been identified that the person who punched CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu in the face was O.S., who lives in the same neighborhood. Five other people have also been identified and taken into custody along with O.S.

O.S., who could not be found in his house on the day of incident, was caught 190 kilometers away from Çubuk, namely in Sivrihisar, Eskişehir. (AS/SD)