A three-time convicted man attacked a Turkish politician

A man attacked the leader of a major Turkish opposition party, Ozgur Ozel, as he was leaving the Ataturk Cultural Center. The 66-year-old previously convicted Turk jumped up to the politician and hit him hard in the face with his palm.

The attacker was Selcuk Tengioglu, born in Gaziantep in 1959. He had previously been convicted three times, including for the murder of his two children in 2004 and theft. Tengioglu was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was released on parole after spending 16 years in prison. He is currently in custody and being interrogated by security forces.

Eyewitnesses report that he hit Ozel with the words: “I am a descendant of the great Ottomans!”

Erdogan has already called the victim, Ozgur Ozel, expressing sympathy and support.