Erdogan vows to combat terrorism following Istanbul courthouse attack

Türkiye will continue its decisive fight against all terrorist organizations and their supporters without making any distinction, President Erdogan reiterates

Following the unattempted terrorist attack outside the Istanbul courthouse, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday reaffirmed the country’s steadfast commitment to fight terrorism.

“Türkiye will continue its decisive fight against all terrorist organizations and their supporters without making any distinction,” Erdogan said at an event in Kahramanmaras, marking the first anniversary of two devastating earthquakes last February.

Erdogan also said that one of the people injured in the attack had died but gave no further details.

Two armed members of the terrorist group DHKP-C trying to attack a checkpoint outside a courthouse in Istanbul were killed on Tuesday, according to Turkish authorities. Türkiye, the U.S. and the European Union have designated the DHKP-C as a terrorist organization. The terrorist group, following a far-left ideology, has been actively carrying out attacks and killings in the country since the 1980s.

Visitors and court staff dived down for safety at one of Türkiye’s largest courthouses as a gun battle broke out.

Police teams and medical staff were immediately dispatched to the scene. The entrances and exits to the courthouse were closed.

Earlier in the day, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya also confirmed the terrorist attack, saying: “Today, there has been an attempted terrorist attack at the security checkpoint in front of Gate C of the Caglayan Courthouse,” Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X after the attack.

“An attempt was made to attack the checkpoint in front of Gate C of Istanbul Caglayan Courthouse at 11:46 a.m. today. It was determined that the attackers were from the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party (DHKP/C),” the minister added.

“Two attackers, one woman, and one man, were shot down. Five people were injured, including three police officers. I congratulate our heroic police officers.”

The minister also wished a speedy recovery to those injured, adding that more details about the incident will be shared soon.

Source: Newsroom & AA