Police personnel have detained 40 individuals suspected of involvement in an attempted terrorist attack on an Istanbul courthouse, leading to the tragic death of a woman, announced Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

According to reports, a man and a woman initiated an assault on a security checkpoint at the Cağlayan courthouse in Istanbul, resulting in an exchange of gunfire that led to their demise. The attackers have been identified as members of the DHKP-C, a radical left-wing group designated as a terrorist organization in Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union.

Tragically, a woman wounded during the altercation later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.

In response to claims of explosive devices found in the attackers' bag, Minister Yerlikaya clarified that such information had not been reported to his ministry by the police.

Since June 1, 2023, until Feb. 6, security forces have conducted 335 operations targeting left-wing terrorist organizations, resulting in the apprehension of 269 DHKP-C members. Among them, 30 have been arrested, 137 placed under judicial control, and six have been "neutralized," a term Turkish authorities use to denote individuals who have surrendered, been killed, or captured.

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, who visited the courthouse for an on-site examination, disclosed that the assailants initially attempted to enter through a different entrance but redirected to their eventual location after encountering security measures.

Tunç further revealed that two terrorists were killed during the confrontation with law enforcement, and three police officers along with five others sustained injuries.

One of the deceased terrorists had previously served a 15-year sentence for membership in an armed terrorist group in 2004 and was released after completing the term. The other individual was currently undergoing trial for involvement in terrorist activities.

Drawing parallels to a prior attack by DHKP-C at the same courthouse in 2015, which resulted in the death of prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz, Tunç suggested that the recent assault may have had similar motives.

Meanwhile, EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi condemned the terrorist attack in a statement, expressing solidarity with Türkiye in its fight against terrorism.

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