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Minister publicizes assassination attempts

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Seven people are under arrest for past attempts to kill Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayiip Erdogan, the interior minister said.

Before Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin's statement, only two assassination attempts had been made public, Today's Zaman reported.

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One occurred during a visit to the Kutahya province in 2005 when a suspect with a gun attempted to get on the prime minister's bus.

"I was going to shoot the prime minister. I am a nationalist. I am disturbed by his recent remarks. They made me angry," he allegedly said during interrogation.

The second took place in 2009 in Tekridag province, Today's Zaman said, when a suspect was caught with a gun at a security checkpoint at a rally.

Sahin's statement Thursday came after Republican People's Party Deputy Chairman Muharrem Ince asked about recent assassination attempts.

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