Police detain 22 people in raid against DHKP-C in southern Turkey

ANTALYA – Doğan News Agency

AA Photo

Turkish police have detained 22 people in the southern province of Antalya in an operation against the outlawed far-left Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), a day after two militants with suspected links to the group took a prosecutor hostage in Istanbul.

Antalya police detained 22 people with a warrant early on April 1.  Anti-terror teams reportedly had information there might be similar attacks in the city and commenced the operation. The police are still searching for one suspect.

Lawyer Hakan Evcin, however, denounced the claims of a possible attack in Antalya and said the individuals detained were preparing to give a press statement at 19:00 p.m.

Two militants with alleged links to the DHKP/C took Mehmet Selim Kiraz, the prosecutor in the controversial case into the killing of Gezi victim Berkin Elvan, hostage on March 31. Kiraz succumbed to his injuries in hospital after the six-hour hostage drama, during which security forces killed the two captors.

The perpetrators’ demands included a live confession by the police officers suspected of killing Elvan, the prosecution of the officers in a “people’s court,” and the acquittal of all those being tried for participation in solidarity rallies for Elvan, as well as other requests.