Kurdish politician nearly stabbed to death in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Kurdish politician Ahmet Karakas was repeatedly stabbed Tuesday in Ankara as he prepared to enter the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) headquarters.

Karakas, an HDP executive committee member, was attacked around 9:30 a.m., sustaining seven stab wounds to his neck, leg and stomach area.

An unidentified suspect is in police custody.

The attack comes amid heightened tensions in Turkey, where Kurds have criticized the government for not providing military aid to Kurds in Syria who are defending the border town of Kobane from Islamic State takeover.

"This attack is a result of the lynching campaign against our party that has been going on for days," the HDP said in response to the stabbing of Karakas, an allegation denied by the Turkish government.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu accused Kurdish politicians of "taking their thuggery to a peak" on Tuesday before condemning the attack on Karakas and asserting "There can be no excuse for such an attack on any politician or citizen."

The government has accused the Kurds of inciting unrest in order to impede a fragile peace process while Turkish Kurds allege the government is undermining their community both in Turkey and elsewhere.