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Deniz Naki: Shots fired at Kurdish footballer's car in Germany | Deniz Naki: Shots fired at Kurdish footballer's car in Germany |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A German-Kurdish footballer and well-known critic of the Turkish government has survived a suspected murder attempt while driving in western Germany. | A German-Kurdish footballer and well-known critic of the Turkish government has survived a suspected murder attempt while driving in western Germany. |
At least two bullets fired from a passing car hit Deniz Naki's car on a motorway near Düren on Sunday night, German media say. He was not injured. | At least two bullets fired from a passing car hit Deniz Naki's car on a motorway near Düren on Sunday night, German media say. He was not injured. |
"I immediately ducked and then rolled right to the hard shoulder," he told Die Welt newspaper. | "I immediately ducked and then rolled right to the hard shoulder," he told Die Welt newspaper. |
Naki plays for Amed SK in Turkey and previously played for German clubs. | Naki plays for Amed SK in Turkey and previously played for German clubs. |
Last April a Turkish judge gave Naki a suspended jail sentence of 18 months for "spreading terrorist propaganda for the PKK", the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party. | Last April a Turkish judge gave Naki a suspended jail sentence of 18 months for "spreading terrorist propaganda for the PKK", the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party. |
In 2016 the Turkish Football Federation gave him a 12-match ban for "ideological propaganda" linked to the Kurdish conflict. | In 2016 the Turkish Football Federation gave him a 12-match ban for "ideological propaganda" linked to the Kurdish conflict. |
But there is no evidence that the shooting was directly linked to the Turkish state, and Turkey has not commented on it. | But there is no evidence that the shooting was directly linked to the Turkish state, and Turkey has not commented on it. |
In an interview with Die Welt, Naki said two shots had been fired from a large black car. "One bullet struck a window, in the middle of my car, the other one hit near a tyre." Die Welt shows photos of the two bullet holes. | In an interview with Die Welt, Naki said two shots had been fired from a large black car. "One bullet struck a window, in the middle of my car, the other one hit near a tyre." Die Welt shows photos of the two bullet holes. |
Police are investigating and treating the case as a murder attempt. | Police are investigating and treating the case as a murder attempt. |
Read more on Turkish-Kurdish tensions: | Read more on Turkish-Kurdish tensions: |
Naki grew up in Düren and played for the German clubs FC St. Pauli and SC Paderborn. | Naki grew up in Düren and played for the German clubs FC St. Pauli and SC Paderborn. |
He said he believed it to be a politically motivated attack, possibly by the Turkish MIT secret service. | He said he believed it to be a politically motivated attack, possibly by the Turkish MIT secret service. |
"I assume it was a MIT agent or somebody else who doesn't like my politics," he said. | |
He had not received specific threats recently, he said, "but I'm attacked on social media constantly". | He had not received specific threats recently, he said, "but I'm attacked on social media constantly". |
Turkish forces have been battling the PKK in eastern Turkey since a ceasefire collapsed in July 2015. Turkey, the EU and US treat the PKK as a terrorist organisation. | Turkish forces have been battling the PKK in eastern Turkey since a ceasefire collapsed in July 2015. Turkey, the EU and US treat the PKK as a terrorist organisation. |
Ethnic Turkish and Kurdish critics of the Turkish government living in Germany accuse Ankara of intimidating opponents at home and abroad. Germany has Europe's largest Turkish diaspora - an estimated three million. | Ethnic Turkish and Kurdish critics of the Turkish government living in Germany accuse Ankara of intimidating opponents at home and abroad. Germany has Europe's largest Turkish diaspora - an estimated three million. |
Cansu Özdemir, a left-wing, ethnic Turkish politician in Hamburg, tweeted that the attack signalled a threat to opponents of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Germany. | Cansu Özdemir, a left-wing, ethnic Turkish politician in Hamburg, tweeted that the attack signalled a threat to opponents of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Germany. |
"I fear Erdogan's hit squads will carry on until every intimidated person shuts up," she said. "This seriously menacing situation must not be played down any longer." | "I fear Erdogan's hit squads will carry on until every intimidated person shuts up," she said. "This seriously menacing situation must not be played down any longer." |
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