Attack against PM convoy in Kastamonu

The Turkish prime minister’s convoy was attacked late Wednesday in Kastamonu after he departed from the Black Sea city by helicopter, leaving one police officer dead and another injured.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s closest aides were on the party bus, NTV reported.

The assailants threw explosives at the party bus and then opened fire, escaping after an exchange of gunfire. Security forces have launched an operation in the forested area surrounding the crime scene to catch the perpetrators, NTV said.

"I begin my speech by expressing my sorrow about an attack in Kastamonu," Erdoğan said in his speech at a subsequent campaign rally in Amasya. "These terrorists, these separatists who understood that they cannot get any result at the elections think that they will be successful in this way. We will not permit these groups to divide this country."

"My people will never give credit to terrorists, to those who want to destabilize our country," the prime minister said.

Also on Wednesday, six police officers were injured in an attack at a Diyarbakır funeral for four members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. Demonstrators at the funeral attacked the Diyarbakır prison, the site of many alleged incidents of torture, and tried to gain access to the prison compound.

Harsh statement against opposition

Erdoğan’s speech in Kastamonu was one of his harshest to date, as the prime minister hit the opposition parties below the belt by bringing up recent sex tape scandals.

Referring to former Republican People’s Party, or CHP, leader Deniz Baykal, who resigned following a sex tape scandal, Erdoğan highlighted the basic Alevi morality of "be in control of your hand, tongue and groin."

"[Baykal] could not control his groin, and had to leave his spot as party leader, but he is now a deputy candidate,” the prime minister said. “What happened to the female deputy who was involved? She was not made a candidate. Was she the only one at fault? Aren’t they both responsible?"

Referring to CHP chief Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who took the party leader post after Baykal’s fall, Erdoğan said: "Kılıçdaroğlu is the leader of sex tapes. He would not be here if it was not for a sex tape."

Saying that he "apologizes to [his] sisters," Erdoğan lashed out at those who cite "violation of privacy" in defense of the sex tape scandals.

"How is it private? It’s not like he is with his wife. How is that private? It’s not. This is a general immorality. Don’t deceive the public," said Erdoğan, targeting Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, leader Devlet Bahçeli.


/Hurriyet Daily News/