03.09.2026 14:11
Halit Altun, 42, who was shot dead by police during an argument with his children in a park in Belgium, was bid a tearful farewell in his hometown of Mersin. His brother alleged that the incident was a racist attack and that his brother was killed in front of his children.
Halit Altun (42), a father of four who was allegedly shot and killed by police during an incident at a park in Belgium where he had gone with his children, was laid to rest in his hometown of Mersin. His brother, Mehmet Altun, who witnessed the incident, claimed that his brother was shot in front of his children's eyes.
ADULTS JOINED THE CHILDREN'S FIGHT
In the incident that occurred last Sunday in the city of Eupen, Belgium, Halit Altun, a Turkish citizen who had been living in the country for about 15 years and working as a worker in a cable factory, went to the park with his children Cebril (14), Yasin (13), Kamil (12), and Şehmuz (11). According to the claim, an argument broke out between Altun's children and a group allegedly consisting of Ukrainians. As the argument escalated, a brawl ensued between Altun and the group members. It was alleged that while Altun was chasing a person from the group with an object he had picked up to defend himself, he was shot by police officers who arrived at the scene. Altun, taken to the hospital, lost his life.
After the procedures, Altun's body, brought to Turkey, was taken to Akbelen Cemetery in the Toroslar district of Mersin. Following the funeral prayer held there, Altun's body was laid to rest amidst the tears of his family and relatives.
"THE INCIDENT ESCALATED WHEN THE OTHER CHILD'S FATHER ARRIVED"
Mehmet Altun, the brother of Halit Altun who witnessed the incident, stated that the incident grew after a fight started among the children, saying, "My brother was there with his children, he went to that children's park to let them play. There was a group of Ukrainians there, a group of 20-25 people, Ukrainians. First, a fight breaks out among the children. Then my brother reconciled the children, but when the other child's father arrived, the incident escalated this time. They attacked my brother, all the Ukrainians with him also attacked my brother. They beat my brother there."
"A RACIST POLICE OFFICER SHOT MY BROTHER"
Altun, recounting that his brother picked up something to defend himself and chased a person, said, "My brother also picked up something there to defend himself and chased someone. While he was chasing him, the police shot him from behind and killed him. A racist police officer killed my brother. He killed him in the children's park, killed him in front of the children's eyes."
THEY SHOT HIM AND HANDCUFFED HIM
Altun, claiming that his brother was handcuffed after being shot, said, "After shooting him, while he was on the ground, the police handcuffed him. Then they came and stood by his head for quite a while, until the ambulance arrived. Then they started doing heart massage and such, but that was just for show. My brother had died at the scene. Then we took him to the hospital."
"THEY RAIDED HIS HOUSE WITH LONG-BARRELED WEAPONS AND DOGS"
Altun also claimed that a search was conducted at his brother's house after the incident, saying, "While we were with him at the hospital, the police, the federal police, raided his house with long-barreled weapons and dogs. They were looking for evidence, thinking 'what can we find on him and what more can we pin on him'."