05.09.2026 07:20
During a traffic enforcement operation in Istanbul's Esenyurt district, a retired chief police officer, reacting to being fined for illegal taxi operations, opened fire on the on-duty police officer and then committed suicide. The police officer, severely wounded in the back during the attack, became a martyr, while the attacker also died at the hospital where he was taken.
In Istanbul's Esenyurt district, Ekrem A., identified as an unlicensed taxi driver, opened fire on police officers with a gun in protest of a fine, then shot himself with the same weapon. Police officer Mehmet Ali Topatan, severely wounded in the back, was martyred, while the attacker, who died in the hospital, was reported to be a retired chief police officer who had retired from the police force in 2026.
RESPONDED TO UNLICENSED TAXI FINE WITH GUNFIRE
The incident occurred around 10:50 PM on Fatih Sultan Mehmet Street in the Akevler neighborhood of Esenyurt. Police teams conducting a traffic operation stopped a suspicious vehicle and carried out an inspection. During the checks, legal proceedings were initiated against the driver, Ekrem A., who was identified as an unlicensed taxi driver. Objecting to the fine, Ekrem A. drew the gun he had with him, opened fire on the police team on duty, and immediately after, shot himself with the same weapon.
THE ATTACKER TURNED OUT TO BE A RETIRED CHIEF POLICE OFFICER
As a result of the gunfire, police officer Mehmet Ali Topatan was hit in the back and seriously wounded. Numerous police and medical teams were dispatched to the scene. Police officer Topatan, taken to the hospital, could not be saved despite all medical interventions and fell as a martyr.
Following the incident, the attacker Ekrem A., who was taken to the hospital in serious condition, also died. As a result of investigations and identification at the scene by security forces, it was learned that Ekrem A., who martyred the police officer, was a retired chief police officer who had retired from the police force in 2026.
STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNORSHIP
In a statement from the Istanbul Governorship on the matter, it was stated: "On 04.09.2026, around 10:50 PM, security teams conducting a traffic operation on Fatih Sultan Mehmet Street in the Akevler neighborhood of the Esenyurt district processed a vehicle they identified as performing unlicensed taxi services. Following the procedure, the vehicle driver, a person named Ekrem A., opened fire on the security teams and seriously wounded our police officer, Mehmet Ali Topatan. The person who carried out the attack committed suicide with the gun he was carrying immediately after the attack. Our police officer Mehmet Ali Topatan, taken to the hospital in serious condition, could not be saved despite all interventions and was martyred. Ekrem A., who carried out the attack, also lost his life in the hospital where he was taken in serious condition."