Future Party Vice Chair Özdağ attacked in Ankara

* Future Party Vice Chair Feramuz Üstün visited Özdağ in hospital

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Future Party Vice Chair Selçuk Özdağ was attacked by a group of people with firearms and sticks in front of his house in the capital city.

According to a statement released by Serkan Özcan, the Spokesperson for the party, Özdağ was attacked by five people, wounded in his head and hand. Özdağ has been hospitalized following the attack.

In his statement on Twitter, Özcan has said, "Our Vice Chair and former Manisa MP Selçuk Özdağ was attacked with sticks and weapons in front of his house in Ankara at around 12.15 p.m. Attacked by a group of around 5 people, Mr. Özdağ is severely wounded in his hand and head." Özdağ was taken to a private hospital by his driver after the attack.

While the security officers are reportedly still examining the surveillance cameras around the scene of the incident, Future Party Spokesperson Özcan has expressed his party's expectation that the responsible parties are identified and put on trial without losing any time.

Ahmet Davutoğlu: An act of political terror

Future Party Chair Ahmet Davutoğlu, also a former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister from the ruling AKP, has also made a statement about the issue in Mardin, where he went for a party event.

Announcing that he will immediately leave Mardin for Ankara, Davutoğlu has defined the attack as an act of "political terror."

"This can have no explanation, this is openly a terrorist act," he has said, adding that he is waiting for an open and clear explanation from President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Emphasizing that this issue cannot be covered up, he has stressed that the Minister of Interior and security units should make a statement about it.

Davutoğlu has further noted that "camera footage and intelligence about the attack are available" and added that they will accept no excuses.

"If such attacks are allowed, then the President is to be held accountable for them," the Future Party Chair has noted.

"We will stand firm against those engaged in political terrorist activities in the middle of Ankara and all parties threatening the gains of Turkey in the field of human rights. We will never surrender Turkey to the unidentified murders of the 90s or to the unidentified political terrorist activities of the organizations behind them," Davutoğlu has concluded. (AÖ/SD)