The manhunt continues for the top leaders of the terrorist Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) one year after the brutal killing of Mehmet Selim Kiraz, an Istanbul prosecutor who was shot dead in his courthouse office by DHKP-C militants.

On March 31, 2015, Turkey was rocked by an unprecedented crisis at a major courthouse complex in Istanbul. Mehmet Selim Kiraz, a prosecutor, was taken hostage by unknown gunmen and his photo was later seen on social media in a haunting photo of Kiraz with a gun to his head. The photo was released by two suspected members of the DHKP-C. About nine hours later, gunshots rang out inside Kiraz's office in the Çağlayan courthouse complex and police units in position outside of the building rushed in. Kiraz was killed by two DHKP-C militants, Şafak Yayla and Mustafa Doğruyol, who were killed in the ensuing clash with police. The incident raised concerns regarding the security of courthouses and the DHKP-C threat, as the terrorist group has stepped up attacks in recent years.

One year later, the Çağlayan complex where Istanbul's main courthouses are located, hosted a commemoration ceremony for Kiraz. His former colleagues, courthouse staff and high-ranking officials from around Istanbul lined the halls inside the building to observe a moment of silence in memory of Kiraz, before a commemoration was held at his grave.

Speaking at the commemoration ceremony, Hadi Salihoğlu, a chief prosecutor for Istanbul, noted that prosecutors have since sought an international search warrant and the extradition of nine suspects, all senior members of the terrorist organization, for the murder.

Prosecutors say that DHKP-C leaders – masterminds in the plot to kill Kiraz – are believed to be in hiding in European countries. Kiraz was the lead prosecutor investigating the role of the police in the death of Berkin Elvan, a young rioter who was killed during the 2013 Gezi Park protests in Istanbul, when he was allegedly hit in the head by a teargas canister fired by the police. The terrorist organization, which actively participated in riots during the protests, has threatened Turkish authorities over Elvan's death. Prosecutors said the militants who took Kiraz hostage were in contact by phone with DHKP-C figures in Greece and Bulgaria during the hostage crisis.

Prosecutors believe Nuri Eryüksel, Zerrin Sarı and Faruk Ereren, who reportedly live in Germany and the Netherlands, are the masterminds of the plot. Three of the suspects are members of DHKP-C's central committee. Other suspects include Mesut Demirel, Şerafettin Gül and Seher Demir, who reportedly live in Germany and the Netherlands, along with other suspects. Hüseyin Fevzi Tekin, another senior DHKP-C member sought by prosecutors, is currently in detention in Greece where he was captured last year, while Şadi Naci Özpolat is currently imprisoned in Germany, and Musa Aşoğlu is believed to reside in Belgium. Prosecutors have applied to the Justice Ministry for international arrest warrants and the extradition of suspects.

The DHKP-C, although less influential in Turkey than other terrorist organizations such as the PKK, still represents a considerable threat to the country with a string of attacks in past years. The group was behind the suicide bombing that targeted the United States Embassy in Ankara in 2013, along with attacks on the Justice Ministry and the headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in the capital. The organization's last known attack in Istanbul was on March 3. Two female militants of DHKP-C were killed after they opened fire on a bus carrying members of riot police in Istanbul in a non-lethal attack. On Wednesday, a suspected DHKP-C member was shot dead after he attempted to carry out an attack targeting governorate building in the eastern city of Tunceli.

The DHKP-C was founded in 1978. Purportedly advocating Marxist-Leninist ideology, it was most active during the Cold War era. The group has revived its attacks in recent years. It is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.

Police were on the alert against the terrorist organization after several members of the group infiltrated Turkey from Greece, where they were released last year after brief detention. Two militants, one male and the other female, planning to launch attacks, were captured in the western province of Aydın where they secretly arrived by boat from Greece a few months ago. Two other DHKP-C members who are believed to have sneaked into Turkey from Greece are still on the run. Greece, along with Syria, which is regarded as the birthplace of the group, are among countries where members of the terrorist organization have taken shelter, after a string of crackdowns by security forces in the past. Lavrion, located on Greece's Aegean coast, houses a refugee camp that is largely occupied by terrorists who use it as a training camp and coordination center for their activities. DHKP-C members often seek asylum in Europe, claiming they have been persecuted for their political views in Turkey.