Leader of Turkish Political Party Attacked

The leader of the Turkish Innovation Party (Yenilik), Deputy Öztürk Yılmaz, was injured on Wednesday as a result of a knife attack by an unknown assailant, reports RIA Novosti, citing NTV.

The assailant arrived at the party's office in Ankara to meet with Yılmaz but unexpectedly struck twice with a knife to his right leg. The politician has been hospitalized, and the attacker is being sought by authorities.

According to the television channel, Yılmaz has previously held several positions in Turkish embassies in Brazil and Kyrgyzstan, as well as at Turkey’s representation in the EU. In 2014, Yılmaz, who was then the head of the Turkish consulate in Mosul, was kidnapped by militants from the Islamic State and held hostage for 101 days.