A brazen assault on the Caglayan Courthouse in Istanbul, Turkey resulted in a fatal shootout in broad daylight. The attack claimed the lives of three individuals, including both assailants, and left five others injured.
The assault was carried out by members of the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP/C), a group identified as a terrorist organization by the governments of Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. The attack was initiated at the courthouse’s security checkpoint.
The incident took place on Tuesday, February 5, 2024, when the attackers targeted a security checkpoint outside the courthouse, triggering an immediate response from the stationed security forces.
During the exchange of gunfire, both assailants were killed, along with an unidentified third person. In addition, five individuals, including three police officers and two civilians, sustained injuries.
The DHKP/C, known for its extremist left-wing ideology, has a history of violent activities within Turkey. The group had previously targeted the same courthouse in 2015, taking a prosecutor hostage, which resulted in fatalities when police intervened.
Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, provided a detailed account of the events on social media, stating that the attackers—a man and a woman—had specifically targeted a security checkpoint.
Yerlikaya further elaborated on the attackers’ criminal history, revealing that they had both spent time in prison for terrorism-related crimes.
The attack was not only an affront to the courthouse’s physical security but also intended to convey a menacing message, coinciding with the court appearance of the elder sister of one of the attackers on terrorism charges.
The state-run Anadolu news agency broadcast footage showing the moment the assailants were neutralized by security forces in the courthouse’s forecourt after an exchange of gunfire. The video also displayed the ensuing panic as bystanders scrambled to safety.
The assault coincided with a day of national remembrance for victims of a catastrophic earthquake, casting a shadow over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s condemnation of the attack and his reaffirmation of Turkey’s determination to combat terrorism.
This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges Turkey faces as it strives to maintain peace and safety within its borders, particularly during periods of national grief.
In response to the attack, a comprehensive investigation has been initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc.
