21.07.2026 17:01
Sabahat Avcı, who was returning home from grocery shopping in Şişli, Istanbul, was attacked by an unidentified person. The assailant approached the woman from behind while she was walking, struck her on the back of the neck, and fled the scene, with the moments captured second by second on security camera. The unfortunate woman recounted her terrifying experience.
Sabahat Avcı, 58, was returning from grocery shopping in Şişli, Istanbul, when an unidentified assailant struck her on the back of the neck, causing her to fall. The attack was captured on security camera, and the woman has filed a complaint.
STRUCK FROM BEHIND AND FLED The incident occurred on July 15 in the Şişli district. According to information obtained, Sabahat Avcı (58) was walking home with bags in hand after completing her grocery shopping when she became the target of an unidentified person approaching from behind on the street. The suspect silently approached Avcı from behind as she walked alone. Taking advantage of the woman's vulnerable moment, the attacker suddenly delivered a hard blow to her neck.
Shocked by the attack, Avcı staggered and fell to the ground, while the suspect quickly ran away from the scene. The attack was recorded second by second by a security camera of a nearby business. The footage shows the woman walking on the road, the person approaching from behind suddenly attacking, striking the woman's neck, the woman falling, and the assailant fleeing out of sight. Police teams have reviewed the security camera footage and launched an extensive operation to capture the fugitive suspect. The investigation into the incident continues.
"I AM VERY WORRIED RIGHT NOW" Sabahat Avcı stated that she does not know the suspect's motive for the attack, saying, "On July 15, at around 5:30 PM, I went to the market and did my shopping. While returning home, at the beginning of the street, a person I had not noticed at all came from behind, very quickly struck me on the back of the neck, knocked me to the ground, and ran away. I shouted after him, but I never saw his face. I don't know why he did it, but I am very worried right now. Will he attack again? Does he have a purpose? Is there another reason behind it? I don't know, I want him to be found and punished as soon as possible so that he doesn't victimize other people like me. There may be no permanent damage now, but my entire body is bruised. Especially my knee is in great trouble.'"
FILED A COMPLAINT Avcı said she filed a complaint about the attacker, stating, "I reported it to the police one day later and filed a complaint. I also obtained a medical report of the assault. The police said they would handle it. No news has come out so far, but I am waiting. I hope it will come out. I want to trust that they will find him. God forbid, I hope it doesn't turn into a street murder of women. Since I saw him from behind, I can't say anything now. Even if I saw his face, I think I would panic. I asked a few people if they saw such a thing here, if they had any knowledge, but no one saw it. Nobody knows him. That day, the street was very deserted because it was July 15. There are pharmacies and a family health center here. This street is actually a busy street, always full of people coming and going, but that day there wasn't a single person. I can't understand how he watched and timed it."
"WHEN HE HIT MY NECK, MY VISION WENT BLACK" Avcı said her vision went black after the blow, adding, "He hit me on the right side of my neck. When he hit my neck, my vision went black. As I fell to the ground, I thought, 'Oh no, my eye will be shattered.' Thank God, I landed behind a parked car, against its rear bumper. If it hadn't been that way, if I had fallen flat on the ground, my arms or fingers could have broken, or my face could have been smashed. He hit very hard, and I slammed into the back of the car with that force. But despite that, I have bruises on my knee and arms. My expectation is for the security forces to find this person as soon as possible, give the necessary punishment, and ensure that he is not in a position to harm any other person or even the smallest living being."