ISTANBUL – An Istanbul deputy mayor was killed on Monday after being shot in the head by an unknown assailant.
Cemil Candas, a member of the opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and deputy mayor of the prosperous Sisli district of Istanbul, was reportedly shot after an assailant entered his office on Monday, according to NTV.
BREAKING: An unknown assailant shoots deputy Mayor of Istanbul’s Sisli district, Cemil Candas in the head. pic.twitter.com/xzhZFAl7te
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It is unknown as of yet whether the shooting was linked to Friday’s attempted military coup.
Although the CHP has been fiercely critical of the AKP government, the party has strongly condemned Friday’s coup attempt in numerous statements.
“We condemn the coup attempt [against] our parliamentary democracy by a junta within Turkish Armed Forces,” said a statement released on Monday.
“With regards to Turkey’s respectability, [the process of holding coup plotters accountable] should only be conducted within the limits of the rule of law.”
Party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu had swiftly opposed the coup on the day it took place, saying: “This country was wracked with coups. We do not want to go through the same troubles.”
An unknown armed assailant charged into the office of Cemil Candas, Deputy Mayor of Istanbul’s Sisli district, and opened fire, leaving Candas in critical condition, according to Turkish broadcaster NTV.
It is as yet unclear if the shooting of the Jewish politician is connected with Friday night’s failed coup against Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan, which resulted in the deaths of more than 200 people.
Erdogan has begun a “purge” of the army and political spheres in Turkey, saying he will remove the “virus” of opposition to his rule, causing some experts to speculate that the coup, which was plagued by poor execution, was staged in order to enable the President to further consolidate power.
More than 7,000 people – including over 100 generals – have been arrested following the coup, and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has suspended the annual leave of more than three million civil servants nationwide until further notice.