Turkish opposition leader warns mayors against armed attacks

The leader of Turkey’s main opposition party Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Tuesday warned the country’s mayors against potential armed attacks, similar to last week’s attack on the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) head office in western İzmir province.

“I have warned by mayor friends,” T24 news site cited the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) as saying during a CHP group meeting that they“should all be prepared for provocations. Those similar to the one in İzmir could happen anywhere”.

On Thursday, a gunman stormed the HDP office and shot dead a 20-year-old party staffer. The attack took place hours before a planned meeting of 40 officials at the office, which had been postponed at the last minute, the HDP said. 

The assailant, Onur Gencer, was reportedly seen flashing the sign of the Grey Wolves, a Turkish far-right group, which the European Parliament has urged the EU to place on its terrorist organisations list. 

“My greatest request from you is that you, as the elected mayor of your town call on its residents to peace,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.  “Do not allow for provocations.”

Kılıçdaroğlu’s warning follows that of exiled-mob-boss-turned-YouTube-star Sedat Peker.

Peker, who has made international headlines with his corruption accusations against government officials, last week urged citizens to remain in the home against the looming threat of armed attacks carried out by the "deep state’’.