Knife Attack in Turkey Leaves Five Injured; Teenager Detained
An 18-year-old has been detained following a knife attack in northwestern Turkey that left at least five people injured. The assailant allegedly targeted individuals at an open-air cafe in Eskisehir, approximately 143 miles (230 kilometers) west of Ankara, after prayers at a local mosque.
According to the Eskisehir governor’s office, the attacker, identified as Arda K., was apprehended by police following a brief chase. The five victims were taken to a nearby hospital, with two in critical condition, as reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency.
Eskişehir’de sokakta kesici aletle rastgele insanlara saldırarak 5 kişiyi yaralayan şüpheli A.K., Eskişehir Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı tarafından başlatılan adli soruşturma kapsamında yakalanarak gözaltına alınmıştır.
— Yılmaz TUNÇ (@yilmaztunc) August 12, 2024
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Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced on X, formerly Twitter, that prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the incident. Reports suggest that the teenager was heavily armored, wearing a helmet, skull face covering, and a bulletproof vest during the attack.
Media outlets, including HaberTurk and Anadolu Agency, reported that the assailant broadcast the attack live on social media via a camera attached to his vest. There are claims that the teenager may have been influenced by a video game, though no definitive source for this information has been provided.
The attacker was also found to be carrying an ax, which he did not use during the assault.