Election Rally Attacked with Stones – Milliyet News
Violence Erupts at İmamoğlu’s Election Rally in Erzurum
A planned attack on Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and his election bus occurred in Erzurum, leading to the intervention of the police. İmamoğlu stated on Twitter that the event was planned and that law enforcement authorities did not fulfil their duties. He also stated that the incident had nothing to do with the people of Erzurum and that his brothers from the city would watch the case closely.
Mayor Mehmet Sekmen of Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality blamed İmamoğlu and his party for causing the chaos. Erzurum Governor Okay Memiş stated that the program was a visit to the tradesmen and not a rally, therefore, there was no officially announced meeting place. Seventeen people were injured in the attack, and nine were kept under observation, but their condition was not serious.
İmamoğlu’s supporters expressed their concerns on social media, and the Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın described the incident as unacceptable, adding that they did not approve of such events. Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu blamed İmamoğlu for the chaos, claiming that İmamoğlu has an agenda disease and that he fills the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality with terrorist organization members despite state warnings.
In response to the event, İmamoğlu addressed citizens gathered at Sabiha Gökçen Airport and urged them to be cautious while maintaining love, compromise, and not be offensive to any of their citizens. Çetin Osman Budak, deputy chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), commented that the attack aimed to frighten İmamoğlu’s supporters and discourage them from voting.
The incident shows the intense political tension in Turkey, particularly between the ruling AK Party and the opposition CHP. However, the majority of citizens are urged to maintain restraint and peace in the upcoming election.
