Turkey’s Fidan says he survived assassination abroad as head of intel

ANKARA — Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan dropped a bombshell on Friday, revealing publicly that he survived an assassination attempt during his tenure as the country’s intelligence chief.

“We were physically subjected to an assassination attempt, as well we were poisoned and also received treatment,” Fidan told Turkey’s 24 TV during an exclusive interview on Friday, referring to himself in the plural in a rhetorical manner.

“Beyond that, we have been constantly facing character assassinations and similar things.”

Fidan added that the attempt took place four or five years ago when he was the chief of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT).

“It has been four and five years ago,” Fidan said, adding, “I was given a heavy dose of arsenic and mercury. … It later showed up in the tests.”

He declined to provide further details when asked over who might be behind the attempt, but implied that it took place abroad.

“Well, let’s not go into those details. Those matters occurred outside,” Fidan said. “The enemies aren’t just within — they’re everywhere.”

Fidan also described the attempt “as a part of the political struggle.”

Fidan headed the MIT from 2010 to June 2023, when he assumed the role of Turkey’s foreign minister. Fidan maintained a largely low-key profile during his tenure at MIT.

The statement marks the first public revelation about an assassination attempt targeting Turkey’s intelligence chief.