Imamoglu, which is accused of being head of the criminal network, arrested with 6 others

The public prosecutor's office in Istanbul has granted arrest warrants for the mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), Ekrem Imamoglu (IBB), and six other people for “supporting the PKK/KCK terrorist organization”, the officials said on Wednesday.

The public prosecutor quotes alleged connections to the political activities associated with terrorism

According to the public prosecutor's statement, the allegations of investigation focus on the allegations that Imamoglu and other suspects have knowingly participated in the “Urban Consensus” initiative, which claim to increase the influence of the PKK/KCK terrorist group in the metropolitan areas in March 31, 2024, local elections.

The public prosecutor also claims that the PKK/KCK leader Cemil Bayik and Mustafa Karasu have issued media transactions about the organization via media transactions.

In the investigation, connections between the municipality of Istanbul and the HDK, a political platform are also identified in the investigation.

City officials among the detained persons

People who are faced with arrest warrants include:

• Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul Metropolitan Community (IBB) Mayor
• Mahir Polat, deputy general secretary of IBB
• Resul Emrah Sahan, Mayor of Sisli
• Mehmet Ali Caliskan, President of the Reform Institute
• From, an alleged fleeting PKK/KCK -ideological surgical
• Ha, a former employee of the Spectrum House, which is accused of recruiting for the PKK/KCK
• Ebru Ozdemir, deputy mayor of Sisli

The authorities claim that these people were involved in the facilitating of PKK/KCK-connected persons within local subsidiaries such as the Istanbul and Bimtas Planbulbul planning agency.

The investigation of the alleged terrorist affiliation continues

The public prosecutor's declaration claims that several people who were appointed members of the local council or deputy mayor of the Republican People's Party of the opposition of the opposition (CHP) had connections to the PKK/KCK.

The authorities report that 18 municipal civil servants were arrested in related investigations while additional suspects remain under control.

The department for fighting terrorism in Istanbul was instructed to carry out coordinated arrests, searches and evidence as part of the ongoing probe. Officials have not yet confirmed how many of the suspects mentioned were taken into custody.

Imamoglu or the other people named in the investigation no immediate explanation was published.