HDP deputy Kürkçü criticizes PKK over deadly Diyarbakır attack

ANKARA

Kurdish issue-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Ertuğrul Kürkçü has strongly criticized the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which claimed responsibility for the deadly Nov. 4 bomb attack in Diyarbakır province.

“No words can justify blind violence targeting our lawmakers, co-chairs, executives and civilians. No liberation movement can get over this with a simple apology, using the same line as [the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] ISIL and violating the right of life,” Kürkçü said via his Twitter account.  

PKK-affliated Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) claimed responsibility on Nov. 6 for a bomb attack that occurred in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır early on Nov. 4, which killed 11 people and wounded hundreds. 

According to a report by the Fırat News Agency (ANF), a PKK-linked media outlet, a militant identified as Kemal Hakkari staged the deadly bomb attack.

On Nov. 5, Reuters had reported that ISIL was behind the bomb attack, quoting the jihadist group’s statement on Amaq News Agency.

However, the Diyarbakır Governor’s Office later had announced that the PKK staged the attack with a three-ton bomb-laden vehicle in two separate statements.

In the latest statement, the governor’s office had noted that three separate radio communications of the militants pointed to the PKK’s hand in the attack, claiming that other reports “only aimed to protect the organization.”