The trial was held at the Üsküdar 1st High Criminal Court yesterday. The case against suspect Dursun Karataş, the founder of the organization, was dropped because he died during the trial process. Karataş died on Aug. 11, 2008 in Arnhem, the Netherlands. The cases of the remaining the suspects were dropped due to the statute of limitations. Since the late 1980s, the group has primarily targeted current and retired Turkish security and military officials.
It began a new campaign against foreign interests in 1990, which included attacks on US military and diplomatic personnel and facilities. It was designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and the United States. In 1994, infighting within Dev-Sol resulted in the formation of two factions: the main group led by Karataş was renamed the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C), while Bedri Yağan, the second most powerful figure in the organization, created the new Turkish People’s Liberation Party/Front (THKP/C).
