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| Driver for Kurdish activist questioned in France over murders | Driver for Kurdish activist questioned in France over murders |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| French prosecutors have filed preliminary murder and terrorism charges against a Turkish citizen who worked as a driver for one of three Kurdish activists gunned down this month in Paris, an official said on Monday. | French prosecutors have filed preliminary murder and terrorism charges against a Turkish citizen who worked as a driver for one of three Kurdish activists gunned down this month in Paris, an official said on Monday. |
| The suspect, identified as Omer Guney, 30, drove for the most prominent victim, Sakine Cansiz, a woman in her 50s who helped found the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, a rebel group seeking autonomy for Turkey's Kurds. Guney told investigators he has been a member of the PKK for two years, prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters. | The suspect, identified as Omer Guney, 30, drove for the most prominent victim, Sakine Cansiz, a woman in her 50s who helped found the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, a rebel group seeking autonomy for Turkey's Kurds. Guney told investigators he has been a member of the PKK for two years, prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters. |
| There is "serious and corroborating evidence" to show that Guney had a role in the 9 January killings, Molins said. | There is "serious and corroborating evidence" to show that Guney had a role in the 9 January killings, Molins said. |
| The preliminary charges open the way for a fuller investigation which would lead to formal charges if sufficient evidence is found. Guney maintains his innocence. | The preliminary charges open the way for a fuller investigation which would lead to formal charges if sufficient evidence is found. Guney maintains his innocence. |
| The conflict in Turkey between the PKK and government forces has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 1984. Recently, Turkish officials have been holding talks with the PKK in an effort to persuade it to disarm. Turkey's government has said those opposed to such talks may have been involved in the Paris killings. | The conflict in Turkey between the PKK and government forces has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 1984. Recently, Turkish officials have been holding talks with the PKK in an effort to persuade it to disarm. Turkey's government has said those opposed to such talks may have been involved in the Paris killings. |
| Molins said video cameras show that Guney was inside the Kurdish Information Centre in the 10th district of Paris on 9 January at the time investigators believe the killings occurred there: between 12.43pm and 1.21pm. The prosecutor said 10 shots were fired – four into the head of one of the victims and three each into the heads of the other two. | Molins said video cameras show that Guney was inside the Kurdish Information Centre in the 10th district of Paris on 9 January at the time investigators believe the killings occurred there: between 12.43pm and 1.21pm. The prosecutor said 10 shots were fired – four into the head of one of the victims and three each into the heads of the other two. |
| Murder weapons have not been found, but investigators believe only one was used in the attack. The investigators say they found a bag in Guney's car that had traces of gunpowder on it. | Murder weapons have not been found, but investigators believe only one was used in the attack. The investigators say they found a bag in Guney's car that had traces of gunpowder on it. |
| Video evidence from a nearby store, a parking garage and elsewhere shows Guney entering the Kurdish Information Centre with Cansiz at 11.29am. He left briefly to return to a nearby parking garage and was seen returning to the center at 12.11pm. Guney was in the centre for about 45 minutes. | Video evidence from a nearby store, a parking garage and elsewhere shows Guney entering the Kurdish Information Centre with Cansiz at 11.29am. He left briefly to return to a nearby parking garage and was seen returning to the center at 12.11pm. Guney was in the centre for about 45 minutes. |
| When confronted with the video evidence of his presence at the centre, Guney initially told police he had "forgotten" to tell them he had returned to the centre. Later, Guney claimed the videotapes must have been manipulated, according to the prosecutor. | When confronted with the video evidence of his presence at the centre, Guney initially told police he had "forgotten" to tell them he had returned to the centre. Later, Guney claimed the videotapes must have been manipulated, according to the prosecutor. |
| The other two victims were named as Leyla Soylemez and Fidan Dogan, Kurdish activists in their 20s. Many Kurds flocked to Paris from Germany and Turkey to mourn the deaths of the three women. | The other two victims were named as Leyla Soylemez and Fidan Dogan, Kurdish activists in their 20s. Many Kurds flocked to Paris from Germany and Turkey to mourn the deaths of the three women. |
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