On Sunday, at around 10:00 am local time, an unidentified woman attempted to attack the shared offices of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and the Green Left Party in Adana, Turkey. The woman, who was later caught by party members, left three bottles containing explosive and flammable substances at the entrance.
The incident was captured on the building’s security cameras, and the police were alerted. Upon investigation, the police confirmed that the liquid inside the bottles was indeed explosive and flammable. Party members initiated a search for the woman, who was eventually found at a bus stop 300 metres away with another woman. The second woman claimed that the assailant was mentally unstable and pleaded for her release. However, party members recognised her from the security footage, in which she had also been inspecting the site. This suggested a reconnaissance mission for a planned attack and led them to the conclusion that the duo’s actions were part of a premeditated scheme. Both women were detained by party members and turned over to law enforcement.
Green Left Adana MP Tülay Hatimioğulları provided a detailed account of the incident, stating, “The suspect was constantly calling someone on the phone, referring to them as ‘mum,’ while surrounded by our party members who were waiting to hand her over to the police. Our suspicion is that the person she referred to as ‘mum’ on the phone is a code name, and it’s highly likely that the attacking woman was receiving instructions from this individual.”
The Adana Governorate released a statement claiming that the assailant has mental issues. This aligns with the second woman’s attempt to rescue the assailant and confirms Hatimioğulları’s observations, suggesting a pre-coordinated attempt.
HDP Adana Provincial Co-Chair Mehmet Karakış also provided details about the incident, stating that the woman, wearing a headscarf, waited for 15 minutes on the stairs before leaving the bottles and departing the building. “The police conducted an investigation at the scene. We filed a complaint,” Karakış said.
The same building had been targeted in a bomb attack by the Islamic State (ISIS) on 18 May 2015, in which seven people were injured.
The apprehended woman reportedly told party members, “The police sent me. Who sent you?” This statement, along with the police’s response to Green Left Party Adana Deputy Tülay Hatimoğulları’s protest, saying, “Don’t exaggerate this much,” drew particular attention. The two women were taken into custody, and the building was placed under police blockade.
Hatimoğulları expressed her frustration with the blockage and police’s actions, stating, “These barricades should be set up against those who carried out this attack, not against us!” She also detailed the events leading to the apprehension of the suspects, highlighting the possibility of a conspiracy.
HDP issued a statement regarding the attempted attack, confirming that the suspect had tried to enter another party building and was caught by party members. The statement also mentioned that the suspect admitted to being directed by the police and being the one who attempted the attack.
The assailant woman, later identified as A.C., has been transferred from the Anti-Terror Branch to the Public Security Branch. Authorities have stated that there is “no connection to terrorism,” despite the evidence of a coordinated plan. Furthermore, the second woman involved in the incident has been released.
