HDP leader warns of more deadly attacks in Turkey

ANKARA

AP photo

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has warned that Turkey is at risk of more suicide bombings due to intelligence and security negligence, after the killing of 32 activists in an attack believed to be linked to extremist jihadists in Syria. 

“It seems that tougher days await us. These people are all cold-hearted. More attacks could follow at any time,” Demirtaş told reporters late on July 21. “There are intelligence and security failures.”

His statement came a day after Turkey lost 32 youngsters in a suicide bombing attack in the Suruç district of Şanlıurfa province, on the border with Syria. As members of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), the activists were planning to cross into Syria to help rebuild the town of Kobane. 

Demirtaş called on locals to stand against such terror acts together. 

“My dear friends who live on this soil, of course you are familiar with such pains. Our entire history has been marked by similar deaths, oppression, slanders and pain. Death has always been imposed on these people,” he said. 

Urging those living in towns on Syrian border to “take their own measures” against a potential attack by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Demirtaş called on both citizens and state institutions to provide security. “There are some in the state who support them [ISIL]. The state has serious security negligence …

But these lands do not belong to a single identity. ISIL’s understanding will not find a place in these lands,” he said.

HDP releases circular to branches

In line with Demirtaş’s repeated warnings, the HDP’s Central Executive Board (MYK) sent a circular to its provincial offices, as well as its offices in cities, asking its officials to “meticulously” review security measures at party buildings, the HDP press office announced on July 22. 

The circular particularly warned the party branches to be careful when conducting body and belongings searches of visitors, while checking any packages and flowers sent to party addresses. It also underlined the need to toughen security measures at all demonstrations and activities in which the HDP’s members participate.