Individual apprehended for setting ablaze vehicle near Turkish Parliament building

In an unusual protest, a man set his car on fire outside the Turkish Parliament on Aug. 19, at 8:55 a.m. The incident, which drew suspicion due to its timing coinciding with a parliamentary commission meeting on the PKK's disarmament process, has since been the subject of an investigation.

The burned vehicle, a Renault Toros, resembles a common car model in Turkey. However, in the country's recent political memory, the term "white Toros" evokes more than a car model and is associated with unsolved murders and enforced disappearances in the country's southeastern provinces.

The man behind the incident, who resides in Mersin, has a lengthy criminal record with 16 prior convictions. His criminal activities extend beyond vehicle tax grievances, as shown by his extensive record, which includes theft, establishing a criminal organization, and threats.

The man's actions were a protest against the failure of the anticipated tax reduction on his 12 junk cars. It is worth noting that he had previously attempted a similar arson attempt in front of a courthouse in Mersin in 2018.

The episode gained attention due to the resemblance of the burned vehicle to a Renault Toros. However, the man's actions also stirred controversy when he attempted to provoke mourners during the funeral of a Turkish soldier killed by the PKK terrorist organization in 2006.

The man's psychological disorders are also a factor in the investigation. Prosecutors in Ankara have launched an investigation against him on charges of "deliberately endangering public safety." The fire was swiftly extinguished, and no injuries were reported.

Despite extensive searches, there is no available information about who set fire to the car in front of the Turkish Parliament on August 19 at 8:55 a.m. The man's identity, along with the motives behind his actions, remain a mystery as the investigation continues.