7-2-2024 (ISTANBUL) In what Turkey has deemed an attempted terrorist attack, left-wing militants opened fire at a police checkpoint in front of a courthouse in Istanbul on February 6. The incident resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to six others. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the two shooters, who were killed by the police, were believed to be associated with the DHKP-C group.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc stated that 34 individuals had been detained in connection with the attack, although he did not provide further details. Tunc added that the three wounded police officers were in stable condition. Unfortunately, one of the four civilians injured in the incident later succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment.
The DHKP-C, also known as the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Army-Front, is an outlawed Marxist organization considered a terrorist group by the United States, the European Union, and Turkey. The group has been held responsible for numerous attacks and suicide bombings in Turkey since 1990. Over the years, authorities have conducted several operations against the organization, resulting in the detention and elimination of many of its members.
Footage of the attack reveals two shooters firing at the checkpoint while civilians are present. In the footage, one of the shooters is killed while civilians manage to escape, and the other is shot dead by the police behind a metal gate shortly afterward.
????Far Left Party in #Turkey believed responsible for fatal shooting outside an #Istanbul courthouse on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/AxqafnWcXo
— MedyaNews (@medyanews_) February 6, 2024
Banu Polat, an eyewitness, mentioned that there appeared to have been an initial attack inside the courthouse. However, authorities have neither confirmed nor provided additional details about this incident.
President Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at an event in the southeastern Kahramanmaras province, commended the police officers for neutralizing the two attackers before they could carry out their sinister intentions. Initially, Erdogan reported six casualties, but later clarified the death toll.
Minister Yerlikaya described the incident at the Caglayan Courthouse as an “attempted terror attack.”
