'Had the assailant come half an hour later, he would have committed a big massacre'

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After the armed assault on the Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) provincial office in İzmir in the morning, people gathered around the building in Konak district.

HDP deputies Sezai Temelli, Murat Çepni and Serpil Kemalbay joined the people around the building. HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan followed them.

The crowd chanted "AKP will give an account to the people" and showed a banner that read "Our word to Deniz will be peace."

HDP politicians are seen to have tears in their eyes.

"Our hearts are broken but we keep our heads up"

Buldan arrived at the building at 6 p.m. and made observations in the building.

Speaking to the crowd later, Buldan remarked, "We want everyone to know that our hearts are broken after the martyrdom of our friend Deniz but we keep our heads up."

"We'll defeat fascism"

"First of all, may God have mercy on Deniz. I condole with her grieving family, our friend from the party and all of you.

"This murder is not the first. We saw these murders many times. We have never kneeled to those who said 'You'll obey us," those who said, 'You'll kneel before us.' We won't kneel, we won't bow down."

"A massacre plan"

Buldan noted that had the assailant come to the party's office, he could have committed a big massacre.

"Today, a killer was sent here to commit a big massacre. But, incidentally, there was only Deniz inside. Had our friends come here half an hour ago or the killer came half an hour later, a big massacre would have been committed in this city today.

"In front of everyone, with a weapon in his hand... It's even said that there were not one but three people. These people entering the building is an organized massacre plan.

"Those who are responsible for this incident are, of course, those who rule the country. The AKP and its little partner MHP."

"Was this what Erdoğan meant?"

Buldan recalled a statement by President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from three weeks ago, saying that "Did the president mean this when he said, 'These are your better days'?"

On May 26, Erdoğan praised those who had attempted to attack İYİ (Good) Party Chair Meral Akşener during a visit to his hometown Rize. "This was only the first, many more things will happen ... These are the better days for you," he had said.

"They should be afraid, not us"

Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) Chair and MP Erkan Baş spoke to the crowd after Buldan.

"Today, a murder is committed here. Of course, there is a coward who pulled the trigger but no one should forget the order that creates and feeds this killer.

"We'll do everything we can for this coward to receive the punishment that he deserves. We promise that we'll hold those who create and feed them accountable.

"We are here, we won't be afraid. They should be afraid. We stand with the HDP."

Demet, 21, a person in the crowd, said "The attack on Deniz is also an attack on the women's movement. Deniz's killing was conscious. The government's policies paved the way for this." (PT/VK)