Eight suspects arrested for planning attack on main opposition’s ‘justice march’

KAYSERİ – Anadolu Agency

Eight suspects were arrested on July 19 for planning an attack on the “justice march,” a 450-km walk led by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. 

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) suspect named Oğuzhan Korkmaz was detained in the Marmara province of Kocaeli, after 14 suspects who had contacts with him were detained on July 5. 

The suspects had reportedly planned to attack the march by ploughing into the crowds with a rented minibus.

Some ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) flags had been found in the minibus, as authorities said the party’s materials were placed there to create provocations. 

The suspects were referred to a court in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri on July 18. 

The court ordered the arrest of the nine suspects while six of them were released on judicial control.

Kılıçdaroğlu began his justice march on June 15 from Ankara to Istanbul in protest of the arrest of the prominent CHP deputy Enis Berberoğlu on charges of espionage.

On July 9, accompanied by thousands of people, Kılıçdaroğlu concluded his march in a massive rally in Istanbul with the participation of around one million people. Kılıçdaroğlu had vowed their protests would continue in his address during the rally.