Pro-gov’t daily blames main opposition CHP leader over deadly blast

Duvar English

The pro-government newspaper Yeni Akit on Nov. 14 blamed main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu for the blast on Istanbul’s iconic Istiklal Avenue, that killed at least six people and injured 81.

Kılıçdaroğlu on Oct. 18 said in a tweet that “I repeat again. Wait for November. Wait for Mr. Kemal,” implying that he will speed up the election campaign, which was planned to be held in June 2023.

A few hours after the blast, Yeni Akit pointed Kılıçdaroğlu’s tweet out in their reporting and said, “Social media users commented: ‘Did Kılıçdaroğlu meant the bombing when he said November?’."

Kılıçdaroğlu’s lawyer Celal Çelik said that they will file a criminal complaint against the newspaper.

A blast hit Istanbul’s iconic Istiklal Avenue on Nov. 13, killing at least six people and injuring 81. 

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu blamed the Kurdish YPG militia and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) for the bombing. Ankara says the YPG, which Washington has supported in Syria, is a wing of the PKK. On the other hand, the PKK denied involvement.

Turkish Interior Minister: We reject US condolences over deadly blastDiplomacy

Turkish government agency confirms limiting internet after deadly blastDomestic

Person behind Istiklal bombing arrested, as PKK denies involvementDomestic

Explosion hits Istanbul’s Istiklal Avenue, killing 6 peopleDomestic