Mahmut A, who attacked an exhibition held in conjunction with the 15th İstanbul Biennial at the Abdülmecid Efendi Mansion in İstanbul’s Üsküdar district, was freed by a court on condition of judicial supervision, the T24 news website reported on Monday.
According to the report, Mahmut A. came from the northwestern Turkish province of Bolu to Istanbul and launched an attack on the exhibition on Sunday morning. He was detained by the police but subsequently freed by the court under judicial supervision.
Four or five people shouted slogans including “Is this secularism?” and “This country has become like this because of you” and attacked the historic mansion, attempting to damage the property. Member of the group Mahmut A. reportedly has a long criminal record with 24 violations and was a former member of the nationalist Grand Unity Party (BBP) in Bolu province.