Gun attack martyrs police chief in northeastern Turkey

By Muhittin Sandikci and Meltem Ozturk

RIZE/ANKARA, Turkey

A police chief was martyred in an armed attack in the northeastern Turkish province of Rize, the provincial governor said on Tuesday.

A police officer, identified by his initials I.S., opened fire at Altug Verdi, 46, at his office at around 2.50 p.m. local time [1150 GMT] when the first handed in his appointment demand to the chief.

According to Rize Governor Kemal , the chief did reportedly not accept the officer’s demand.

The attacker also wounded Ercan Polat, the head of a personnel office, in the chest and the back, and Yigit Can Koksal, bodyguard of the police chief, in his leg, Vice President Fuat Oktay said in the capital Ankara.

The police chief, who sustained injuries in his neck, succumbed to his wounds in the hospital, Oktay added, while the others are not in critical condition.

The attacker, who was wounded in the foot by Koksal, was arrested.

By Muhittin Sandikci and Meltem Ozturk

RIZE/ANKARA, Turkey

A police chief was martyred in an armed attack in the northeastern Turkish province of Rize, the provincial governor said on Tuesday.

According to Rize Governor Kemal , the chief did reportedly not accept the officer’s demand.

The police chief, who sustained injuries in his neck, succumbed to his wounds in the hospital, Oktay added, while the others are not in critical condition.

The attacker, who was wounded in the foot by Koksal, was arrested.