JINHA

AMED – The Governor's Office stated that the number of the dead has risen to four in the contra attacks continuing in Diyarbakır since yesterday afternoon., Six people, including three press members and one hospital employee, have been wounded in the incidents.

Yesterday, Aytaç Baran was shot in front of his home in the Şehitlik neighborhood of Diyarbakır. Aytaç was known as the head of Yeni İHYA-DER, a group known for its close ties to the extreme Islamist Hür Dava (Free Cause) Party, or Hüda-Par. Aytaç Baran was rushed to hospital, but died soon after.

The Diyarbakır governor's office announced that six people have been taken into custody in connection with the attacks. The Governor's Office stated that a number of guns and bullets have been seized as well.

Three journalists—Canan Altıntaş and Serdar Sunar of Doğan News Agency and Burak Emek of İhlas News Agency—were assaulted by the attackers in the Şehitlik neighborhood. Canan is reported to be in critical condition. When Hüda-Par supporters came to the Selahattin Eyyubi State Hospital where Aytaç Baran died, one group opened fire randomly at the emergency department of the hospital. One hospital employee was wounded in the attack.

Autopsies have been performed on the three people killed in the contra attack yesterday—Bayram Özelçi, Bayram Dağtan and Emin Esen. Their bodies were taken to the Yeniköy Cemetery, where their loved ones were seen to be having crises. Hundreds waited in front of the cemetery. The three will be buried today.

Hüda-Par has said that no social media announcements should be considered effective except those made by party officials. Party officials from Hüda-Par have issued calls for calm in the wake of the events.

(nt/gc/cm)