Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Kurdish unrest has bolstered the fortunes of a Turkish armored vehicle producer.

The expanded use by the Turkish police and security forces of riot control vehicles has sent stocks of producer Katmerciler Ekipman rising rapidly in October 2014. In a two-day period in mid-October, Katmerciler stocks shot up by 20 percent as the government pledged to procure additional vehicles.

“We will buy 10 new Tomas for every one destroyed by the protesters,” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Oct. 14.

The police and security forces have been using Toma as the leading anti-riot platform against Kurds. Tens of thousands have been rioting in protest of Ankara’s refusal to help the Kurdish enclave of Kobane in neighboring northern Syria.

Toma contains a range of anti-control systems, including a 1,500-cubic meter water cannon. The Izmir-based company is owned by Ismail Katmercir, a former parliamentarian and deemed close to President Recep Erdogan.

Ankara began procuring Tomas in large quantities during the nationwide anti-government protests in 2013. The result has been a tripling of profits in 2013, from 2.1 million [$930,000] to seven million lira [$3.1 million] by Katmerciler.

Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party was also said to have facilitated exports by Katmerciler. They included Tomas to Libya, a leading target for Turkey’s defense and security sector.

  Ismail Katmercir, Katmerciler Ekipman, Recep Erdogan, Tomas, Turkey’s war on Kurdish protesters boosts firm owned by Erdogan ally, WorldTribune.com