Turkish police thwart planned attack on protest march

By Tevfik Isik

KAYSERI, Turkey (AA) - Turkish police have arrested six people suspected of planning to attack a protest march being led by the head of the country's main opposition party.

Kayseri Governor Suleyman Kamci told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday the six Daesh-linked suspects were detained in the western Kocaeli and central Kayseri provinces.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has been heading a protest march from the capital Ankara to Istanbul since June 15.

Police detained one suspect who rented a car in Kayseri and was planning to attack the marchers, Kamci said.

Five more people, who are accused of aiding and abetting the first suspect, were also arrested in Kayseri, according to police sources.

The suspect was allegedly planning to ram a minibus carrying a flag of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party into the marchers, Kamci said. “With successful work, a provocative action has been averted,” he added.

On Wednesday, Sezgin Tanrikulu, a CHP lawmaker, said Turkey's parliament should ensure security steps are taken, particularly as the march approaches Istanbul.

“Measures against provocative attempts and protests that could prevent the positive effect of the ‘justice’ march should be taken,” he said in a motion submitted to the Grand National Assembly.