MHP not linked to attack: HDP

Şükrü Küçükşahin - MERSİN

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has no links to the recent bomb attacks on two Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) offices in Adana and Mersin in southern Turkey, HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş has said.

“The MHP has no links to the attacks on us. Their deputy leader has made a statement about it. Incidents also took place in Kırşehir province. Some Ülkücü [nationalist groups linked to the MHP] phoned me personally and said it has no links to them. I believe this,” Demirtaş told daily Hürriyet in Mersin, which he was visiting for an election rally.

Denying that the MHP was responsible for the recent attacks, the HDP co-chair pointed the finger at the government.

“There are paramilitary powers that are hired with money and they have links to the [ruling Justice and Development Party] AKP.  We are trying to normalize politics, but the government is very discontent about this. Is this normal?” said Demirtaş. 

On May 18, bombs hit two local headquarters of the Kurdish problem-focused HDP in the southern provinces of Adana and Mersin, weeks before the June 7 general election. Hidden in a cargo parcel and a gift-packaged flower pot, the two bombs injured at least three people.

Demirtaş struck a defiant note in Mersin. 

“Those who try to get us killed by calling us ‘infidels’ in public will not achieve this. They want to keep the HDP under the 10 percent election threshold. They also want to sow hatred between voters in the long run. We will not let this happen,” said Demirtaş, adding that he had instructed the party’s provincial branches to keep calm after the attack and “avoid provocations.”