New details have emerged about the murder of Sinan Ateş, the former chairman of the Ülkü Ocakları (Grey Wolves) who was assassinated in Ankara on 30 December. It was alleged that Ateş told a close friend on the morning of his murder that he was seeing someone from the presidential palace. As this detail emerged, the investigation into the murder continues apace. Photos of the two attackers who escaped on motorcycles were added to the investigation file, and arrest warrants were issued for 30 people connected to the murder.
As the investigation into the murder expanded, some details emerged about Ateş’s final days. Sinan Ateş, who started a provincial tour of the country prior to his killing, had gone to Turkey’s far eastern province of Iğdır on 16 December. While there former Iğdır MHP Provincial Vice President and local Iğdır Ülkü Ocakları Chairman Mutluhan Kaşkar, who was accompanying Ateş, had been attacked with a stick.
According to journalist İsmail Saymaz, Ateş went to Istanbul on 28 December and met with former Ülkü Ocakları members Mahmut Korkmaz, Alparslan Alparslan, and İbrahim Sungur.
In response to the question “What is your goal?” from these three former Ülkü Ocakları members, Ateş indicated that he is a member of the National Action Party (MHP) but did not expect to become a member of parliament. “But I will accept it if the state gives this duty.” Speaking to his best friend on the day he was killed, Ateş said that “someone from the presidential palace” came at 10:30 in the morning. He died a few hours later.
Photos added to investigation file
A photo of two suspects has also reportedly been added to the case information file. According to Mustafa Şekeroğlu from Habertürk, the photo of the assassins on motorcycles was added to the file. The photo was allegedly taken by a citizen who witnessed the attack carried out from a motorcycle in traffic. The citizen then proceeded to send the photo to the police. In the photograph, the suspect driving the motorcycle appears wearing a helmet, while the suspect holding the gun was pictured helmetless and wearing a hoodie. This photo frame was then distributed to operational units investigating the case.
The number of arrest warrants within the scope of the investigation has also increased. Journalist Timur Soykan reported that arrest warrants have been issued for 30 people. Some names from members of Istanbul’s local Ülkü Ocakları branch were reportedly also detained. The initials of three of the suspects in custody were given as V. B., H.S., and Z.A. After procedures at the Police Station and a health check were completed, the suspects were then transferred to a local courthouse. The suspects are expected to testify to the prosecutor conducting the investigation.
Until now, the Ülkü Ocakları and the MHP have yet to release official statements on the subject. MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli did not mention Sinan Ateş while speaking at his party’s recent group meeting in the Turkish parliament. Following the meeting, Bahçeli’s executive assistant announced that the chairman would not take questions from journalists.
The original of the article appeared on January 3, 2023 on https://medyascope.tv/2023/01/03/sinan-ates-suikasti-ortaya-cikan-yeni-bilgiler/. Edited for Medyascope English by Leo Kendrick.
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