Two HDP pollsters stabbed in Turkish capital

Fevzi Kızılkoyun - ANKARA

CİHAN Photo

Two people who were working as pollsters for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were stabbed by unknown assailants on June 15, close to the party’s headquarters in Ankara. 

Merve Tekin, 26, and Mahmut Çelik, 38, were stabbed and injured around 100 meters from the HDP office in Ankara’s Tunalı neighborhood. 

The two were stabbed in front of the Kavaklıdere middle school after leaving the HDP building, Cihan news agency reported. 

Tekin was stabbed in her foot and Çelik was injured in his calf. The two were taken to hospital and their condition is not thought to be serious. 

An investigation has been launched into the incident and footage has been collected from nearby surveillance cameras to identify the perpetrators. 

This attack comes after twin bombs exploded in an HDP election rally in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır on June 5, just two days before the general election. 

A total of four people died due to the injuries cause by the bombing, while more than 100 people were wounded. 

HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, who was due to hold a speech at the event, had to call it off. 

The HDP ended up comfortably passing the 10 percent election threshold to enter parliament, receiving 13.1 percent of the vote.