Two Turkish officers suspended for pushing cars into flames during anti-ISIL protests in Van

VAN – Anadolu Agency

Two police officers have been suspended as part of an investigation launched after footage was revealed showing an armored police vehicle pushing two cars into flames during an intervention into protests against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the eastern province of Van.
 
The violent protests spread around the country on Oct. 6 and 7 as a reaction to ISIL’s advance on the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane, causing the death of more than 40 people.

Footage taken by a city surveillance camera was discovered during an investigation into the incidents in Van, triggering police to launch a new probe into the record which shows an armored vehicle pushing two parked cars toward another blazing car.

Following the detailed examination, the driver of the armored vehicle and the deputy police chief who gave instruction to the officer were determined and dismissed on Nov. 10, Van Gov. Aydın Nezih Doğan said.

The governor’s office has requested an inspector to prepare a report over the incident following a further investigation, Doğan added.

Forty public buildings, 53 city surveillance cameras, 72 private cars, nine bank offices, 22 ATM machines, 11 offices belonging to political parties and 469 work establishments were damaged during the clashes in the city while two people were killed.

A total of 136 people were arrested due to their roles in the incidents.