DIYARBAKIR, Turkey
Eight more people have been detained over clashes that erupted after a pro-Kurdish Huda-Par member was shot dead in the southeastern Turkish province of Diyarbakir on Tuesday.
Four people died in Tuesday's clashes following the murder of Aytac Baran, member of the Huda-Par, or 'Free Cause' party, and chairman of the Yeni Ihya-Der charity.
Baran was shot dead on Tuesday in Sehitlik town, Diyarbakir Governor Huseyin Aksoy said earlier. He was rushed to the Selahattin Eyyubi State hospital but succumbed to his wounds.
In the aftermath of Baran's death, a scuffle took place outside Huda-Par’s office in Sehitlik town, which left a 24-year-old – identified only as B.O. – dead, the governor added.
The clash left a total of six people injured, including three journalists, a police official and a hospital worker.
With the latest move, the number of detained suspects has reached 14 in total. Six suspects were detained Tuesday.
Meanwhile, three modified blank-firing guns, three shotguns, a large number of cartridges and a black mask were seizes along with the eight suspects, the local governorate said in a statement.
Pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag earlier condemned the attack.
The party leaders released a statement extending their condolences to Baran’s family: “We condemn the attack and offer our deepest condolences and prayers to his family and Yeni Ihya-Der foundation members.”
Huda-Par Chairman Huseyin Yilmaz had alleged that Yeni Ihya-Der members had been threatened by the Patriotic Revolutionist Youth Movement and the illegal Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on several occasions in the past.
Yilmaz added that Baran had been shot four times when he left his home earlier Tuesday.
