Türkiye arrests 27 in probe of deadly attack on İzmir police station VIDEO

Turkish authorities continue investigating an armed attack on the Balçova police station, which left two police officers dead and three others injured, including two additional officers, TRT Haber reported.

Counter-terrorism units of the provincial police have carried out multiple arrests, bringing the total number of detainees to 27.

Among those arrested are the alleged perpetrator, a 16-year-old, his mother and father, two of his friends, as well as Iranian nationals detained in Istanbul, Ankara, and Şanlıurfa.

The attack occurred on September 8, at approximately 8:50 a.m. local time (05:50 GMT) when the 16-year-old assailant, a high school student with no prior criminal record, opened fire with a pump-action shotgun at the police station in Balçova, a district west of Izmir, Türkiye’s third-largest city. The assault resulted in the deaths of Chief Inspector Muhsin Aydemir and officer Hasan Akın, with officer Ömer Amilağ critically injured and officer Murat Dağlı sustaining minor wounds. A civilian was also injured. The suspect, who lived on the same street as the station, was apprehended after being shot in the leg by police, with civilians assisting in his capture.

Initial reports suggested the attack might have been motivated by personal grievances, with some media outlets claiming the teenager acted in retaliation for alleged mistreatment during a prior detention. However, Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban denied these claims, stating that the suspect had no previous arrests or criminal record. The weapon used was a shotgun legally purchased by the suspect’s father a decade ago, raising questions about access to firearms.

By Khagan Isayev