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The pro-Kurdish DEM Party in Türkiye has confirmed claims that a suspicious device was found in the vehicle of the recently deceased Sirri Sureyya Onder, who was serving as a Member of Parliament for Istanbul and Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly at the time of his death.
In a statement released by the party, it was noted: “Due to media reports alleging an assassination attempt against our Parliamentary Deputy Speaker and Imrali Delegation Member, the late Sirri Sureyya Onder, we find it necessary to provide clarification.”
The party stated that on April 2, a parking attendant, while driving Onder’s car, became suspicious due to a noise coming from the tires and took the vehicle to a service center. There, a sharp, metal device was discovered, positioned in a way that could puncture the rear-left tire.
The statement continued:
“Mr. Onder brought the matter to the attention of party bodies, where the incident was thoroughly investigated. Relevant evidence and details were submitted to official authorities. Both our party and Mr. Onder have closely followed the matter. Due to the sensitivity of the investigation, the incident was not disclosed to the public. As of now, we have not received any conclusive findings from the ongoing investigation.”
Sirri Sureyya Onder was a prominent figure in Turkish politics, known for his role in the peace process between the Turkish government and the terrorist organization PKK during the 2010s.
As a member of the Imrali delegation, he was one of the intermediaries who visited the imprisoned PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan on Imrali Island. Onder, also known for his earlier career in cinema and activism, passed away recently following a heart attack, which led to an outpouring of tributes across the political spectrum.
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