Armed Robbery in Bağcılar: Suspects Flee with 2.5 Million Lira After Tire Slashing
Istanbul, June 25 – In a scene reminiscent of a movie, an armed robbery occurred in Istanbul’s Bağcılar district on June 23, where suspects slashed the tires of a vehicle, held the driver at gunpoint, and made off with approximately 2.5 million Turkish Lira. Police have located the getaway vehicle, but the suspects remain at large.
The incident took place around 1:15 PM on June 23, in Barbaros Mahallesi. Ahmet Arabi, a foreign national, was reportedly followed by unidentified suspects while driving his vehicle with license plate 34 HMS 441. Arabi had arrived at a business on 220th Street to collect a payment and had just parked his car.
Dramatic Sequence of Events Unfolds
According to eyewitness accounts and police reports, as Arabi parked his car, the suspects exited their own vehicle. They then proceeded to slash the tires of Arabi’s car with a knife, forcibly opened the doors, and confronted him. One of the suspects reportedly pointed a gun at Arabi’s head, while another quickly grabbed approximately 2,568,000 Turkish Lira from inside the vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Mecit Abdulkadir, an eyewitness, described the harrowing moments: “The man parked his car, then they slashed the tires, put a gun to his head, took the money, and ran away.”
Police Locate Getaway Vehicle, Suspects Still at Large
Following the incident, police immediately launched an investigation. Their efforts led to the discovery of the suspects’ getaway vehicle in Pendik. However, it was determined that the suspects had abandoned the car there and continued their escape by other means. Authorities are actively working to apprehend the individuals involved in the robbery.
Hikmet Bahadır, a resident of the neighborhood where the incident occurred, revealed a concerning detail: “The man got into his car and drove to the corner. A black car was following him. When he stopped, they slashed his car’s tires with a knife. They opened the doors, put a gun to his head, took the money and the bag, and fled. This is the third time this has happened to this man.”
The police have reviewed surveillance footage from the area as part of their ongoing investigation. The repeated nature of such incidents, as highlighted by local residents, raises questions about the security measures in place and the potential for a targeted attack.
The stolen amount, approximately 2,568,000 Turkish Lira, represents a significant financial loss. The investigation is ongoing, with police focusing on identifying and capturing the suspects involved in this daring daylight robbery.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses and new information becomes available.
