One Detained Over Hdp Rally Attack, Turkish Pm Says

- Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has announced that a suspect has been detained over the June 5 bomb attack at a Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) rally in southeastern Turkey.

Two people were killed and over 100 were injured on June 5 in the twin blasts before the HDP’s rally in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır.

Davutoğlu said the suspect was caught late June 6 in Diyarbakır, adding he urged a deep investigation of the suspect’s past.

“We condemned [the attack] in all ways as soon as we heard the news. I also called [HDP co-chair Selahattin] Demirtaş as he was present there but they did not call back, presumably they were too busy. We did our duty. And as a prime minister, my duty is to take measures against any kind of negation as the election process in Turkey continues. Attacks on any party while the country is heading to the polls are attacks against democracy. I wish that everyone heads to the polls without any hesitation. They should not be afraid. A suspect linked to the incident was caught late yesterday. We instructed the investigation [to look into] this person’s past. I cannot make a statement for now, as the investigation is continuing. All kinds of measures will be taken and the incident will be revealed, with all its links” said Davutoğlu after he cast his vote in the Central Anatolian province of Konya.

The prime minister also wished the entire country a peaceful election process.

Polls opened in Turkey June 7, where a total of 53,741,838 voters will head to the ballot boxes in a critical election to cast their votes, which will reshuffle the 550-seat parliament and also define the new government for the next four years.