Office of PKK-led group in Erbil attacked, member killed

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The office of an umbrella group, dominated by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in Erbil was attacked by an unidentified individual on Monday, resulting in the death of one of its members, according to PKK-linked media. 

PKK-affiliated Rojnews reported that an unidentified assailant intruded into the office of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNC or KNK) - an umbrella group which includes several Kurdish political parties and groups and is dominated by the PKK - in the Kurdish capital’s Raparin neighborhood. The attacker killed a KNK member, Deniz Hevi, with several bullets.

“Comrade Deniz Hevi was alone in the office in the afternoon when an unidentified person entered [the building], assassinated comrade Deniz Hevi near the gate and ran away,” Rojnews cited Shukurallah Hamadamin, another member of the KNK, as saying. 

He added that the security forces have launched an investigation into the incident and closed the office temporarily. 

KNK platform claims to struggle for Kurdish rights globally. It was established in 1985 by the PKK but was restructured in 1999. 

Erbil security forces have not commented on the incident. 

Rudaw has learnt that Hevi is originally from southeast Turkey (Northern Kurdistan) and is married but has no children. 

A Rudaw reporter on the ground said the security forces have blocked several alleys leading to the office and are checking CCTV footage to find the perpetrator. 

PKK has previously blamed Turkey for a number of deadly attacks on its members in the Kurdistan Region, especially in Sulaimani province.