Istanbul, January 28 – An 18-year-old suspect, Mekin H., has been arrested in connection with a Kalashnikov ambush in Istanbul’s Kağıthane district, where he shot and wounded Sedat İ. The assailant’s confession to police has sent shockwaves, as he claimed to have been paid 600,000 Turkish Lira for the attack by an individual known as ‘Uncle’.
Ambush in Çağlayan Neighborhood
The incident occurred on Monday, January 26, at approximately 05:30 AM in the Çağlayan neighborhood. According to reports, Mekin H. confronted Sedat İ. as he walked down the street and opened fire with a Kalashnikov rifle. Sedat İ. sustained a shoulder injury in the attack.
Following the initial assault, a chase and struggle ensued between the two men. Sedat İ. managed to disarm Mekin H. by striking him with the rifle butt. Mekin H. then fled the scene in a vehicle with license plate number 34 HMM 617. The entire sequence of events was captured on security cameras.
Police Apprehension and Recovery of Weapons
Kağıthane Patrol Teams and Kağıthane Criminal Investigation Bureau officers, alerted by the gunfire, pursued Mekin H. The suspect’s escape attempt ended in the Çağlayan Tunnel, where he collided first with another car and then with a police vehicle.
Mekin H. was apprehended by police, who found a pistol on him. Further investigation led officers to stop a vehicle with license plate number 26 KH 402, driven by Çetin G. (37). Inside, they discovered the injured Sedat İ. and the Kalashnikov rifle, which was then confiscated.
Victim’s Criminal Record and Shell Casings Found
Sedat İ. received immediate medical attention from paramedics at the scene and was subsequently transported to Okmeydanı Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşçıoğlu City Hospital. His condition is reported to be stable and not life-threatening. Investigations revealed that Sedat İ. has a criminal record with nine entries, including ‘drug use,’ ‘intentional injury,’ and ‘car theft.’
A thorough examination of the crime scene uncovered 34 shell casings, 30 of which were identified as Kalashnikov rounds.
Suspect’s Shocking Confession: ‘I Got the Job from Uncle’
During his initial interrogation, Mekin H. provided a startling confession. He stated that he had arrived in Istanbul four days prior to the incident and, through a messaging application, had accepted a job from an individual known as ‘Uncle’ for 600,000 Turkish Lira. He claimed to have undertaken the task with another person he knew as Enes.
Following his initial statement, Mekin H. was transferred to the Organized Crime Branch Directorate for further questioning and investigation.
The incident highlights concerns about organized crime and the availability of illegal firearms in the region. Authorities continue their investigation to identify the individual known as ‘Uncle’ and to uncover the full extent of the criminal network involved in this audacious ambush.
