Turkish police avert bloodbath at Justin Timberlake concert in Istanbul Terror plot foiled

World-renowned American singer Justin Timberlake performed at Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Stadium for the first time in 11 years — but what was meant to be a night of music nearly became a scene of terror. It has been revealed that a possible terrorist attack was planned at the concert, but thanks to the swift intervention by Istanbul Police, a major disaster was averted.

The Grammy and Emmy award-winning artist met with thousands of fans in Istanbul as part of his 2025 world tour. The concert attracted major attention on social media, not only for Timberlake’s return but also for the unprecedented security precautions taken ahead of the event. A total of 1,000 riot police were deployed, accompanied by thousands of plainclothes officers and anti-terrorism units.

Behind the scenes, security services were reportedly assessing the risk of a potential terrorist attack targeting the large crowd. Istanbul Police carried out a preemptive and successful operation to neutralise the threat, quietly preventing what could have been a devastating incident.

A statement issued by the agency managing the concert’s communications confirmed how close the situation came to catastrophe. The release read:

“The globally famous Justin Timberlake concert took place with the participation of thousands of music lovers. This special night went through an extremely sensitive process, not only in terms of music but also public safety.

Prior to the event, several groups had issued threats indicating possible terrorist attacks. As a result of the successful and dedicated work by the Istanbul Police Department, the threat was neutralised and the concert area was secured with the highest level of protection.

Thanks to the 1,000 riot police, thousands of plainclothes officers, and anti-terror teams on duty throughout the night, no incident occurred.

The congestion at the entrances and occasional delays were a direct result of these preventive and protective measures. We thank all attendees for their patience and understanding during this process.”

By the end of the night, thousands of fans enjoyed the concert in peace and safely returned home, unaware of just how close they had come to danger. The Istanbul Police's behind-the-scenes work quietly prevented what could have become a national tragedy.

By Tamilla Hasanova