The Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) was originally formed in 1978 as Devrimci Sol, or Dev Sol, a splinter faction of Dev Genc (Revolutionary Youth). It was renamed in 1994 after factional infighting. The group espouses a Marxist-Leninist ideology and is vehemently anti-US, anti-NATO, and anti-Turkish establishment. Its goals are the founding of a socialist state and the abolition of one- to three-man prison cells, called F-type prisons, in Turkey. DHKP/C finances its activities chiefly through donations and extortion.

Since the late 1980s the group has targeted primarily current and retired Turkish security and military officials. In the 1990s it began attacking foreign interests, including attacks against US military and diplomatic personnel and facilities. DHKP/C added suicide bombings to its tactics in 2001, with successful attacks against Turkish police in January and September. Since the end of 2001, DHKP/C has typically used improvised explosive devices against official Turkish targets and soft US targets of opportunity; attacks against US targets beginning in 2003 probably came in response to Operation Iraqi Freedom. In March 2008 three DHKP/C members were arrested in Istanbul while preparing terrorist attacks, probably against US commercial interests and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan. However, operations against the group and arrests of its members have weakened its capabilities. DHKP/C probably has several dozen terrorist operatives inside Turkey, with a large support network throughout Europe. In August 2008, the group’s leader, Dursun Karatas, died in the Netherlands. Turkish press reporting suggested his death might have initiated a leadership struggle within the organization. In 2009, DHKP/C engaged in limited operational activity against Turkish targets. In April, a DHKP/C member attempted to assassinate former Turkish Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk.