Masked, armed militants clash with police during funeral in Istanbul

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

A masked leftist militant holding an AK-47 attends the funeral of two women militants Şirin Öter and Yeliz Erbay in the Gazi district of Istanbul on December 23, 2015. AFP Photo

Armed people wearing masks have clashed with police after a funeral held for two alleged female militants, who were killed in a police operation in Istanbul, when armed men shot down a police drone at the scene.

The clashes occurred after the funeral held for Şirin Öter and Yeliz Erbay, two suspected female militants who were killed on early Dec. 22 in Istanbul’s Gaziosmanpaşa district.

Öter and Erbay were killed during a raid into an alleged cell of an outlawed group, which left four police officers slightly injured on Dec. 22.

On Dec. 24, a funeral ceremony was held for the two women, who were alleged to be members of the outlawed Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP), in Gazi Cemevi, an Alevi house of worship. 

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-leader Figen Yüksekdağ also attended the funeral.

Several people wearing red scarves on their heads and faces while holding rifles were also present at the funeral. One of them shot down a police drone in the air. After the funeral ceremony, a group clashed with the police, throwing sticks and stones at the police, while the police used tear gas and water cannons on the group. 

The police then began an operation on the armed people seen at the funeral. Six people were detained as they were trying to leave the scene in two cars. The police seized two Kalashnikovs, four chargers, 60 bullets and masks in the cars. Police are continuing a search for another militant among the group.