2025 Balçova police station shooting
| 2025 Balçova police station shooting | |
|---|---|
| Part of Turkey–Islamic State conflict and Terrorism in Turkey | |
| Location | Salih Isgoren police station, Balçova, İzmir, Turkey |
| Date | 8 September 2025 |
| Target | Police officers |
Attack type | Mass shooting |
| Weapon | Pump action shotgun |
| Deaths | 3 police officers |
| Injured | 3 (including the perpetrator) |
| Perpetrator | Eren Bigul |
| Motive | ISIS inspired |
On the morning of 8 September 2025, a mass shooting occurred at the Salih Isgoren police station in the Balçova district of İzmir, Turkey. The perpetrator was 16 years old and was detained at the scene.[1]
Background
IS has carried out numerous attacks on Turkey over the past decade, including a double bombing at a political rally in 2015 that killed more than 100 in the country’s deadliest terror attack.[2]
Attack
Footage posted by the Gercek Gundem news website showed a video of the assailant in a balaclava, a black top, and pale trousers jogging along the pavement carrying a weapon while entering the building.[3] the assailant first shot and killed police officer Hasan Akın who was standing guard in front of the station. The second victim was Chief Inspector Muhsin Aydemir who was killed in the ensuing shootout. Three others were injured, including a civilian.[4] One of the injured police officer succumbed to the wounds in hospital.[5]
The attacker, identified as E.B., used a pump-action shotgun believed to belong to his father. He was shot in the leg by police and taken into custody.[4]
Perpetrator
The 16-year-old assailant, identified by the initials E.B., was captured after being wounded in the incident. Authorities seized his mobile phone and computer, while a special team examines his online and GSM communications.[6]
Link to the Islamic State
An X (formerly Twitter) account allegedly belonging to the attacker contained a post stating "I will perform a suicide attack soon and become a martyr, Allah willing," along with posts related to the Islamic State, according to reports.[7]
References
- ^ "Two Turkish police officers killed in police station attack, security sources say". Reuters. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ "Turkey arrests 161 Islamic State group suspects in a week". AP News. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Teen arrested after two Turkish police officers shot dead". France 24. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Teenager kills 2 police officers in attack on Turkish police station". AP News. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "İzmir'deki polis merkezi saldırısında yaralanan polis hastanede şehit oldu (Turkish) An injured officer was martyred from the police station shooting in İzmir (English)". Anatolian Agency.
- ^ "Number of detained in armed attack on Izmir police station reaches 27-UPDATED-6". Apa.az. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Possible Daesh-linked terrorist attack in Türkiye's Izmir leaves 2 police officers dead". Türkiye Today. Retrieved 14 September 2025.