Özgür Özel attacked in Istanbul, sparking political safety concerns

Ozgur Ozel, leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was attacked by a man as he left a memorial service at the Ataturk Cultural Center in Istanbul. The attacker, identified as Selcuk Tengioglu, was quickly detained by security forces and has been arrested on charges of assaulting a public official. Ozel was not seriously injured, but the incident, which was captured on camera, has heightened concerns about the safety of politicians in Turkey, especially given past attacks on opposition figures. Authorities have stated that there is no evidence the attack was politically motivated, though Ozel suggested it may have been planned and criticized the country's rising political polarization. The assault drew condemnation from government officials and has prompted a formal investigation by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office. The event follows heightened tensions between Ozel and President Erdogan, underlining the fraught political climate.