Attack on opposition leader unwelcome violence: Erdogan

Turkish president on Monday said the attack against opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has been investigated thoroughly, Anadolu reports.

Six people, one of them identified as Osman Sarigun, allegedly attacked Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), on Sunday when he was attending a Turkish soldier’s funeral.

Describing the physical attack “an unwelcome act of violence”, Erdogan said he won’t let anyone disturb the peaceful climate in Turkey.

“Unfortunately, some unwelcome incidents took place yesterday during the funeral for one of our martyrs in Cubuk [district of Ankara] and protests against CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu turned into an act of violence,” he said on Twitter.

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“The incident is investigated thoroughly at all levels. We never approve of violence,” the president added.

After the attack, Kilicdaroglu was taken to a nearby house until an armored vehicle was sent to pick him up under protection of the security forces.

Omer Celik, spokesman of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, said in a tweet: “The AK Party is against all forms of violence. Our principles strongly reject violence. There is no room for violence in democratic politics.”

Sarigun was arrested earlier on Monday in Sivrihisar district of Ankara, prosecutor’s office said.

Five other suspects are at the Cubuk District Gendarmerie Command in Ankara for interrogation, it added.