Terrorist attack in Turkish city of Mersin adds to pre-election tensions

A suspected terrorist attack has occurred in the city of Mersin in Turkey with a large explosion taking place and the sound of gunfire heard. According to breaking news one police officer is declared dead. No terror organization claimed responsibility for the attack, which triggered a heated discussion in the Turkish media. Pro-opposition sources speculate it was the work of a sleeper ISID cell, while the government is currently holding a suspect believed to be a member of Kurdish secessionist outfit PKK.

 

A large explosion that occurred on  Monday, September 26, in the city of Mersin in the Mezitli municipality of southern Turkey is believed to be the work of terrorists. Unconfirmed reports said that an area housing the police force was targeted with VBIED – popular with the terror group ISIS.

 

According to eyewitnesses, a car bomb exploded near the entrance to the police station building.  The police reportedly defused a second car bomb.

 

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The sound of gunfire was also reported by some eyewitnesses online, with local media sources also claiming that at least two policemen were injured by gunshots and that two of the alleged attackers were killed and one captured alive.

Unverified images on social media claim to show security forces holding one of the alleged attackers face-down on the ground with his wrists bound behind his back.

 

The alleged suspect is  Dilsah Ercan, associated with the Kurdish separatist cause. On the other hand, opposition media claims the MO of the hit is strongly reminiscent of ISID, which is believed to be re-organizing in Turkey.

 

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The terror strike cause commentary that regional governments and non-government actors may capitalize on the rising tension prior to June 2023 elections to attack new targets.

 

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Published By: Atilla Yeşilada

GlobalSource Partners’ Turkey Country Analyst Atilla Yesilada is the country’s leading political analyst and commentator. He is known throughout the finance and political science world for his thorough and outspoken coverage of Turkey’s political and financial developments. In addition to his extensive writing schedule, he is often called upon to provide his political expertise on major radio and television channels. Based in Istanbul, Atilla is co-founder of the information platform Istanbul Analytics and is one of GlobalSource’s local partners in Turkey. In addition to his consulting work and speaking engagements throughout the US, Europe and the Middle East, he writes regular columns for Turkey’s leading financial websites VATAN and www.paraanaliz.com and has contributed to the financial daily Referans and the liberal daily Radikal.