Court issues arrest warrant for PYD co-head Muslim, PKK figures over Ankara bomb attack

ANKARA

An Ankara court issued an arrest warrant on Nov. 22 for Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) co-head Salih Muslim as well as senior outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants over a bomb attack targeting military shuttles in Ankara in February, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

The warrant request by the Ankara Chief Public Office stated that the attack, which was carried out by Abdülbaki Somer codenamed Zınar Raperin, was orchestrated by senior management of the PKK/KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) and that some suspects who were not members of the organization also aided the plot during the time of the attack.

It also added that PKK executives may have criminal responsibility regarding decisions on the attack, the call for various attacks at different times and for giving instructions. According to the prosecutor’s request, militants are not able to plan or stage individual attacks without the decision and orders from senior figures.

The Ankara 6th Criminal Court of Peace issued an arrest warrant for Muslim.

Ankara considers the PYD and its armed wing, the People’s Defense Units (YPG), as a terrorist organization linked to the PKK. 

The arrest warrant also included 48 PKK militants, including Zübeyir Aydar and Remzi Kartal in Europe and senior PKK leaders Cemil Bayık, Murat Karayılan and Fehman Hüseyin.

A total of 29 people were killed in the attack on Feb. 17 when a bomb-laden car was detonated during the passing of military shuttles in the Merasim Street near the military headquarters in Ankara. Some 15 suspects had been arrested as part of an investigation into the attack.

The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), a hardline splinter group from the PKK, claimed responsibility for the attack.