Kılıçdaroğlu wears bulletproof vest at rally due to report of 'assassination' threat

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu wore a bulletproof vest at an election rally in Samsun on May 12 due to a report of an assassination threat against the opposition's presidential candidate.

Friday May 12 2023 06:58 pm

Reuters

Turkish opposition Nation Alliance's presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu wore a bulletproof vest at an election rally on May 12, two days before a presidential election and in response to what a party source said was intelligence that he could be attacked.

Footage also showed Kılıçdaroğlu'S security detail carried assault rifles and were on the stage with him as he delivered his speech, the first time such protection was apparent during his election campaign.

A source from Kılıçdaroğlu Republican People's Party (CHP) said the 74-year-old main opposition leader wore the vest and security was ramped up after receiving "intelligence that he could be attacked." The source did not elaborate.

Kılıçdaroğlu, who has a narrow lead over President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the polls, was delivering a speech in the Black Sea province of Samsun.

Huge crowds turned out to see him, making a heart sign with their hands, which has become an emblem of his campaign.