'Police view HDP attack as a simple murder case'

Photo circulating on social media shows the moment the assailant was taken into custody.

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The assailant who carried out an armed attack on the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İzmir Provincial Organization yesterday (June 17) was remanded in custody less than 24 hours later.

The unusual speed of the law enforcement raised question marks whether an effective investigation is being conducted.

Attorney Murat Yılmaz, who chairs the Ankara branch of the Progressive Lawyers' Association (ÇHD), said, "In an [attack] against a political party where one person died, proceedings regarding a person who confessed that he had intended to commit a massacre was completed within less than 24 hours. "

"Moreover, photos of the suspect with weapons taken in Syria and Turkey have surfaced and it is found that he carried out reconnaissance and he was enrolled in a language course in the same building with the HDP office," he added.

Also noting the allegations that suspect Onur Gencer did not carry out the attack alone, Yılmaz said, "What the law enforcement should really do is to investigate the person's connections and take his deposition after putting forward the evidence.

CLICK - Deniz was killed while police officers were waiting at the door

"But they didn't. They hastily took his statement and referred him [the prosecutor]. They could request an additional detention period and would probe in detail his relations, HTC records camera footage, travels to and from Syria, photos at the shooting gallery and whether he has any connection to an organization

"Police could have detained other people according to the results and deepen the investigation. From this, we understand that no large-scale investigations will be held.

"This is what really outrages people. Students who are taken into custody because of a statement for the press or journalists who are taken into custody because of an article are held in detention for three, four days. In some cases, detention is arbitrarily extended to eight days. An assailant who committed a murder and attacked a political party is referred [to the prosecutor] within 24 hours.

"Of course, the prosecutor's office will conduct an investigation. The assailant's arrest is not an obstacle to an investigation. It's just the proceedings being expedited this much causes suspicion. Only the allegation that he has terror ties would be enough for granting an additional period of detention."

"Like the Hrant Dink murder"

"We don't know whether the allegation that there were others with him is being investigated but considering the characteristics of the incident and the fact that it happened before the public eye, the person being hastily taken to the courthouse, and then arrested and sent to prison creates the suspicion that the incident is regarded as a simple case.

"A person killed Deniz. Okay... he admits that he killed her. Okay... 'Let's file a case against him for murder.' This is how they view the incident.

"When Hrant Dink [journalist assassinated in 2007] was killed, it was said it was 'nationalistic sentiments of a 17-year-old.' Then, groups who hold the power had a conflict with one another, it was revealed that we were facing a great organization from the police to the intelligence.

"This is not a simple issue. An effective investigation should be carried out accordingly. If you don't, it means something is trying to be concealed."

About the claims that police officers confiscated camera footage around the area and deleted footage recorded by nearby shops, Yılmaz said it would be spoliation of evidence.

"[Police] seizes camera recordings only upon a prosecutor's order and decrypts them. They don't have the authority to delete them," he said. (HA/VK)