Violent Assault in Çağlayan: Signs of Struggle on Iron Door
Yesterday’s armed attack on the police station in front of the Istanbul Palace of Justice in Çağlayan was averted thanks to the prompt action of the courthouse police. Traces of the violent encounter were discovered at the scene today, revealing the severity of the conflict.
The police officer on duty at the iron-barred gate prevented the terrorists from entering the courthouse by shooting at them from the other side of the gate. Both terrorists were neutralized by the police officer, and the bullet marks on the iron door testified to the intensity of the confrontation.
Following the incident, security measures have been heightened in the vicinity of the Istanbul Palace of Justice. The police presence in the area has been significantly increased, with armored vehicles stationed at the metrobus gate entrance. Furthermore, continuous patrols by police officers to ensure public safety are now visible in and around the courthouse.
In the aftermath of the attack, detailed investigations into the incident have led to the identification and arrest of 17 suspects connected to the attack. Upon interrogation, items such as 48 bullets, plastic handcuffs, pepper spray, and an unidentified mechanism were seized from the organization members.
It is suspected that the terrorists planned to replicate the tragic incident involving prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz, who was killed in 2015 at the same courthouse campus. The attackers purportedly accessed the area by metrobus, with one of the terrorists’ sisters facing trial at the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan.
Of the captured terrorists, it was revealed that one, Emrah Yayla, had been previously convicted for possession of explosives and served a 14-year prison sentence before being released in February 2021. As for Pınar Birkoç, she too had been detained for membership in a terrorist organization and had been subject to several police investigations in the past. She was reportedly imprisoned but subsequently released.
The resolute actions of the authorities in countering this armed attack are a testament to the vigilance and determination of law enforcement to ensure public safety and thwart the nefarious intentions of militant groups.
