The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Izmir branch office was attacked by a gunman this morning (17 June). Party worker Deniz Poyraz was killed in the attack, as confirmed by İzmir Govenor’s Office.
A person named as O.G. raided and attempted to burn down the party building. The assailant has been taken into custody.
Speaking to Mesopotamia Agency, HDP central executive committee member Mahfuz Güleryüz said, ”The attack occurred despite there being a police station directly opposite the HDP party building. Months ago they said that political murders would be committed in this country. What happened today is a rehearsal for further political murders.”
Güleryüz criticized the fact that the armed attacker found it so easy to commit such a murder despite the presence of the police. “He came today for a reason. He came to kill our MPs, to kill our central executive committee members, to kill our branch co-chairs. The state knows all about this. It’s not something that happened spontaneously. No one can make us believe that,” he said.
The HDP politician pointed to Turkey’s Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu’s role in today’s tragic incident.
“They must protect the HDP, the supporters of the HDP and those who fight for democracy and humanity in this country. The rest are all mafia, all gang members. They are all under the command of Süleyman Soylu [Turkey’s Interior Minister], they are just waiting for a sign from Soylu. All of them are ready to attack us, to slaughter us. Even under such circumstances there are people still continuing to threaten us,” he said.
