Court arrests man who fired shots at Atatürk busts in Turkey’s Adana

ADANA

A local court in the southern province of Adana has ordered the arrest of a man who fired shots at the busts of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkey’s founding leader, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Dec. 15.

The suspect known only as “Ali B” was detained on Dec. 14 after firing shots at Atatürk busts in the yard of two schools in the Seyhan district.

He was later referred to court following his proceedings at police headquarters and was subsequently arrested by the court.

Security camera footage from one of the schools showing Ali B. firing two shots at the Atatürk bust emerged following the incident.

According to counter-terrorism police, Ali B. was released from prison two months ago, after being arrested on charges of “bodily harm.”

There have been other reports of attacks against Atatürk statues or busts in the country.

In July, a man who attacked an Atatürk statue in the Siverek district of the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa with a sickle was arrested and taken to court.