Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ on Friday blamed the PKK terrorist organization for a deadly attack against ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party members campaigning in southeastern Turkey, less than 10 days before national elections.
"It is very clear that the PKK terrorist organization is behind them [attackers] and that they are pawns of the PKK terrorist group," Bozdağ said at the AK Party headquarters in the central Yozgat province.
Since it resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians.
Bozdağ said that those responsible for the attack will soon face justice.
"I strongly believe that those who have carried out this attack and those who participated in this attack will be brought to account," he said.
"To destroy terrorism, to destroy terrorists, and to ensure our nation holds elections in a free environment, we will continue to make every effort, every endeavor," he added, referring to the June 24 presidential and parliamentary elections.
AK Party members -- including MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız -- campaigning on Thursday were attacked by an armed group in Şanlıurfa's Suruç district, leaving four people dead and eight injured.
Although Yıldız survived the attack with no injuries, his older brother Mehmet Ali Yıldız died after succumbing to his wounds in the hospital.
The Şanlıurfa Governorship said in a statement that Yıldız, accompanied by a group of people, was visiting tradesmen in the center of Suruç when a discussion turned into a fight.
