ISTANBUL
Turkey’s prime minister has confirmed that a suspect has been detained over a deadly bomb attack on an opposition party rally.
Speaking in central Anatolian province of Konya while voting in Sunday’s Turkish general election, Ahmet Davutoglu confirmed that one person had been apprehended last night in relation to deadly explosions which struck a pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) rally in the south-eastern province of Diyarbakir.
Two people died in the immediate aftermath of Friday afternoon’s twin blasts.
Speaking to the press after casting his vote, Davutoglu said: “We cannot reveal [the suspect’s] name at the moment for the sake of the investigation’s security."
“We will get to the root of it. Whoever has done this, it is an attack on democracy,” Davutoglu added.
Diyarbakir Governor Huseyin Aksoy also confirmed the arrest. "The suspect was detained in the southern province of Gaziantep and taken to Diyarbakir," he said after he voted.
According to the governorate, Diyarbakir chief public prosecutor’s office has been carrying out the investigation.
The run-up to Turkey’s general election has been marred by violence with bombings, shootings, knife attacks and clashes between rival supporters and police hitting the headlines.
Friday’s attack in Diyarbakir came two days before Turks go to the polls in a general election where the pro-Kurdish party could enter parliament for the first time.
Claiming that Turkish security forces were working to find the perpetrators, Davutoglu said that the attack was against Turkey as well as his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.
“This is a dirty hand. The perpetrators didn’t target a party but all [parties], AK Party too.”
Thanking people in Diyarbakir for their “common sense” after the deadly attack, Davutoglu said: “Today, I would ask for everyone, especially people in Diyarbakir and everywhere, go to the polls without any hesitation."
“Every precaution has been taken,” he added.
The prime minister said today was an important day that will “determine the fate of the country,” adding: “It is a civic responsibility for everyone to vote and express their opinion about the future of Turkey with their free will.”
Davutoglu did not give any information about a possible connection between the suspect and any terrorist organization.
