In a brazen daylight assault on Turkey’s largest courthouse, the Caglayan Courthouse in Istanbul became the scene of a deadly shootout resulting in the death of three individuals, including two assailants, and injuries to five others.
The attackers, identified as members of the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP/C), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, launched their strike at the courthouse’s security checkpoint.
The confrontation on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, ensued when assailants opened fire on a security checkpoint just outside the courthouse, prompting an immediate response from the security forces present.
In the exchange of gunfire that followed, both attackers were killed, along with one other person whose identity has not been disclosed. Additionally, five people sustained injuries, among them three police officers and two civilians.
The DHKP/C, known for its far-left ideology, has a history of violence within Turkey. The same courthouse was targeted by the group in 2015 when a prosecutor was taken hostage, leading to a deadly end as police intervened.
The Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, detailed the events on social media, indicating that the attackers—a man and a woman—had targeted a security checkpoint.
He also highlighted the attackers’ criminal backgrounds, noting that they had served jail terms for terror-related offenses.
The attack not only aimed at the physical security of the courthouse but also sought to send a chilling message, coming at a time when the elder sister of one of the assailants was due to appear in court on terrorism charges.
The state-run Anadolu news agency released footage showing the moment security forces neutralized the assailants in the courthouse’s forecourt after an exchange of gunfire. The footage also captured the panic and chaos as bystanders fled for cover.
The assault on the courthouse occurred on a day of national remembrance for the victims of a devastating earthquake, adding a somber note to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s condemnation of the attack and reaffirmation of Turkey’s commitment to combating terrorism.
This incident, occurring amid national mourning, serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges Turkey faces in ensuring security and peace within its borders.
With guidance from Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the attack.