The People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Bahçelievler District Organisation building was attacked on Tuesday, December 28. HDP members intervened with the attacker, who threw tea on one person and injured another with a knife, and was arrested by the police after hiding in a bakery.

In a statement on the incident, HDP Istanbul Provincial Co-Chair İlknur Birol stated that the gun of the attacker was jammed, and so no one was seriously injured.

According to HDP’s reports, the attacker, whose identity is not yet known, asked questions about his party membership after he entered the building. Throwing tea on Ramazan Dişarı, who had offered it to him, the attacker lunged at him with a knife. Party member Aziz Şimşek tried to prevent the attack and was also injured.

The attacker fled to a bakery across the street before being taken away by the police who had arrived at the scene.

After the attack, HDP Deputy Züleyha Gülüm and party members visited the district building. Police said they were investigating the incident.

“I CAME HERE TO KILL YOU”

Speaking about the attack, Ramazan Dişarı said: “After handing him the tea, he poured it down my chest. Then he began throwing insults at me and said: ‘I came here to kill you’.

“Then, he reached out to his gun with one hand and stabbed me with a knife with his other hand. I suffered a small wound on my chest.

“Our friends nearby tried to stop the attack. At this point, he turned his knife to another friend of ours.

“I tried to grab the knife from him and my hand was cut. One friend who tried to help me also suffered a slight injury to his hand.”

POLICE PREVENTED PARTY MEMBERS FROM MAKING A STATEMENT

HDP members wanted to make a statement regarding the attack in front of the party building later in the afternoon. The police blocked the passage of many people who wanted to enter the street where the building is located near Şirinevler square and tried to prevent the statement from being made. Some HDP members started a sit-in in front of the building and protested the blocking, chanting slogans. The police formed a barrier to keep people from passing through.

“NO ONE WAS SHOT BECAUSE THE WEAPON JAMMED”

HDP Istanbul Provincial Co-Chair İlknur Birol made a statement instead to the crowd that continued the sit-in. Birol, conveying the information they obtained about the attack, stated that the attacker tried to fire his gun both in the building and while escaping, and because the gun jammed, there was luckily no serious injuries.

Birol said: “Let the fascist mentality know that the HDP did not kneel today. And it will never kneel.

“If they think that killing us will make us bow our heads, they are wrong. We are the people. Just as we have ruined their plans in the past, we will continue to do so.

“Until this fascist mentality that thinks it has the power in its hands leaves the country, we will continue to fight.

“These attacks are systematic. Know that we will stand tall. We are not afraid; we do not give up. We will not obey you.”

İZMİR MASSACRE COMES TO MIND

In a similar attack on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) İzmir Provincial Organisation building on 17 June, party employee Deniz Poyraz was murdered by gunman Onur Gencer. (EVRENSEL DAILY)