Two police officers died in a traffic accident on Wednesday involving Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s security detail in the southeastern province of Şırnak, local media reported.
Officer Fırat Dere lost his life in the accident in İdil, while three others, including two police officers, were injured. One of the injured police officers, İlker Duran, succumbed to his injuries at hospital later in the day.
Erdoğan, who addressed the public in Mardin after visiting Şırnak, extended his condolences to Dere’s family and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Erdoğan’s large security detail, traveling with him in a convoy of more than 10 vehicles, has attracted criticism due to its use of a number of luxury cars and also for making Erdoğan, who was called the “Man of the People” in campaign slogans, inaccessible to the public.
The precise number of security personnel guarding President Erdoğan and the presidential premises has remained unknown for years, with queries from members of parliament going unanswered.
Turkey’s Department of Presidential Security, which is responsible for the protection of President Erdoğan, his family and presidential residences, spent more than 693 million Turkish lira ($21.5 million) in the first eight months of 2023, corresponding to TL 2.8 million ($87,238) a day, according to data from Turkey’s Security General Directorate (EGM).
