Istanbul, May 26 – A street vendor in Avcılar was injured yesterday evening after being struck by a municipal police motorcycle. The incident, which occurred around 6:30 PM on the Avcılar Coast, involved municipal police intervening with Mustafa Altınöz (60), who was renting bicycles.
Incident Details: Intervention Leads to Injury
According to reports, municipal police teams from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality intervened with Mustafa Altınöz, a street vendor who was renting bicycles on the coast. The officers began confiscating his bicycles. Altınöz attempted to prevent the confiscation, leading to a confrontation.
During the altercation, a municipal police officer on a motorcycle reportedly accelerated and hit Altınöz. Altınöz fell to the ground, bleeding, while the municipal police teams left the scene. Passersby captured the moment of impact on their mobile phones.
Emergency Response and Hospitalization
Following the incident, passersby notified emergency services. Medical teams promptly arrived at the scene and, after an initial assessment, determined that Mustafa Altınöz was injured. He was subsequently transported by ambulance to Avcılar Murat Kölük State Hospital for treatment.
Vendor’s Account: “I Will File a Complaint”
Speaking from the hospital, Mustafa Altınöz recounted his version of events. “The municipal police teams came and took my bicycles. I told them, ‘What’s the need for this? I just started renting three bicycles here for the holiday.’ At that moment, the motorcycle suddenly accelerated and hit me in the chest, and I fell to the ground. They left while I was still there. The camera was recording; it’s all on the helmet camera. There were no shouts, curses, or assaults. I will file a complaint once I recover,” Altınöz stated.
Investigation Underway
The precise circumstances surrounding the incident and the actions of the municipal police are expected to be subject to further investigation. The video footage captured by eyewitnesses is likely to be a key piece of evidence in determining what transpired.
The event highlights ongoing tensions between street vendors and municipal authorities in Istanbul, with vendors often protesting against confiscation of their goods and alleged heavy-handed tactics.
The condition of Mustafa Altınöz is currently stable, and he is receiving medical care at Avcılar Murat Kölük State Hospital.
