A militant group, which is operating in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan under the name of "revenge units", has claimed responsibility for an attack on the "People's Park" in the Başakşehir district of Istanbul. The newly built park was set to be inaugurated today.

The "Revenge Unit" dedicates its actions to the memory of Arîn Mirkan, a YPJ commander who became a symbol of the resistance and will of Kurdish women in the struggle for Kobanê, and to martyr Diyar Xerib, a member of the KCK presidential council and longtime activist of the Kurdish freedom movement, who was killed in an air strike in Bashur (Southern Kurdistan) last autumn.

According to the group, the attack took place last night with homemade explosives. The target was a building in the new park, which - the group said -"is used by fascists". Property damage was caused as a result.

The group stated that the action had taken place in memory of the PKK commander Kasim Engin, who died on 27 May 2020. The statement added: "We remember with love and pride our valuable and hard-working companion Kasim Engin. We will retaliate for all those who have fallen.”