PKK militant who attacked CHP leader’s motorcade last year killed

KARS - Anadolu Agency

An outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant who had staged an armed attack targeting main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s motorcade in the Black Sea province of Artvin last year was killed in an operation, security sources have said.

According to sources, security forces “neutralized” five PKK militants during an air-supported operation in the rural area of the Kağızman district of the eastern province of Kars on Aug. 31.

One of the militants, identified as Göksel Tiryaki, had reportedly participated the attack targeting Kılıçdaroğlu’s motorcade on Aug. 25, 2016 in the Ardanuç district.

The CHP leader had escaped two separate armed attacks staged by PKK militants.

One gendarmerie soldier who was guarding him was killed by the militants while two others were wounded.

It marked the first ever attack attempt by the outlawed group directly targeting a political leader. 

PKK militants first opened fire on piloting gendarmerie vehicles safeguarding the party motorcade from a forested area near the village of Yanıklı, when security forces in three vehicles guarding Kılıçdaroğlu spotted them. 

An armed clash erupted between bodyguards and PKK militants as special forces surrounded Kılıçdaroğlu’s vehicle and responded to the fire.

Kılıçdaroğlu and the party committee escaped unharmed in the first attack and he was kept in safety inside his car. 

The party committee, which was heading to the Ardanuç district of Artvin, were trying to return when they were targeted once again on their way back to the Şavşat district. 

Kılıçdaroğlu was then taken away by a military armed vehicle, first to the highways general directorate and then to the Şavşat District Governor’s Office under heavy protection.