Armed attack on Evrensel

During the night, the office of Evrensel newspaper, located on Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street in Alsancak, İzmir, was fired upon by an individual named İsa Can. The attack occurred around 1:30 AM, when the representative office building was empty. İsa Can, who was brought to the front of the office by İbrahim Halil Bilal, opened fire on the Evrensel sign with a handgun. Seven bullet holes were identified on the sign. It was determined that the bullets struck the exterior of the building and specifically the newspaper's sign.

Following the attack, police teams arrived at the building and conducted an investigation of the premises and the surrounding area. However, our newspaper's İzmir representative office was not notified during the investigation. İbrahim Halil Bilal was taken into custody following the attack.

Our İzmir representative, Özer Akdemir, provided a statement to the police and filed a complaint.

In a statement issued by the İzmir representative office, it was stated, "The attack is a clear intimidation directed not only at Evrensel but also at the public's right to receive news, press freedom, and all journalists who pursue the truth."

The statement continued as follows:

"The history of Evrensel is full of examples, from the murder of our reporter Metin Göktepe in custody to the investigations and detentions we have been subjected to repeatedly, the seizure of advertisements by the Press Advertising Agency, and various pressures and threats. However, it should be known that no bullet, no threat, and no pressure will be able to silence us.

Those who try to obscure the truth should know that: Evrensel will continue to pursue the truth today and tomorrow, just as it did yesterday; it will continue to make the voices of workers, laborers, and the oppressed heard, and to proclaim the truth; it will keep its pen even sharper."

A press statement will be held at 7:00 PM.

News Source: 12punto