Three dead in armed attack on Turkish MP visit

Three dead in armed attack on Turkish MP visit
At least three people have been shot dead and several injured in southeast Turkey, following an attack by an MP from the country's ruling party for an upcoming election.
1 min read
14 June, 2018


At least three people have been shot dead and several injured in southeast Turkey, during a visit by an MP from the country's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), just weeks before a nationwide election.

Turkish state media reported that armed men attacked the election campaign team at a town close to the Syria border, leaving three dead and at least eight injured.

MP Ibrahim Halil Yildiz - from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AKP - was meeting small business leaders in the town of Suruc when his team were attacked, Anadolu reported.

The MP escaped unharmed but three people were killed in the attack.

Health Minister Ahmet Demircan confirmed to Anadolu that there have been casualties. 

"There are wounded people. First aid has been given to them. There was need for an air ambulance, it has been dispatched," Demircan said.

"We will share information as we receive it."

Elections are due to take place on 24 June, with President Erdogan hoping to be elected and see gains for his AKP.

Suruc saw a deadly Islamic State group suicide bomb attack on Kurdish activists in 2015 with at least 31 people killed by the jihadis.

Agencies contribited to this story.