06.11.2026 08:53
Striking claims have come from a fellow villager of murder suspect Arif Sefa Ö. regarding the behind-the-scenes of the massacre in Afyonkarahisar in which 8 people were killed. Ali İhsan Adatepe alleged that the suspect ambushed people who had previously beaten him over a debt dispute, and then opened fire on citizens and female teachers whose vehicles he wanted to take while fleeing. The investigation into the claims based on Adatepe's hearsay is ongoing.
The repercussions of the armed attacks carried out with a shotgun in the villages of Yukarıtandır, Ayazini and Kıyır in the İhsaniye district of Afyonkarahisar, in which 8 people lost their lives, continue. Ali İhsan Adatepe, a fellow villager of the murder suspect Arif Sefa Ö., recounted what he heard about how the massacre began and what happened during the suspect's escape. According to Adatepe's claims, the events, which began due to a debt dispute, escalated when the suspect also opened fire on people he encountered in order to change vehicles.
WAS THE REASON FOR THE MASSACRE A DEBT DISPUTE?
Adatepe, who claimed that at the root of the incident was a debt dispute with people engaged in combine harvester work, alleged that the suspect had previously been beaten by these people.
Adatepe described what happened in these words: "From what I heard, there was a debt dispute. There were combine harvester operators; there was a debt dispute with them. They are probably from Kırşehir. Previously, the combine harvester operators had beaten the boy. "
HE SET AN AMBUSH SAYING "LET ME PAY YOU, LET'S COME TO AN AGREEMENT"
Adatepe, who alleged that the suspect re-established contact with the people he had previously had an argument with, claimed that the first murders were committed after the meeting.
Adatepe said, "After beating him, they spoke on the phone again; he says, 'Come, let me pay you, let's settle it.' They meet over there near the big village. When they came, he had set an ambush and shot them, as far as we know. "
WHEN THEY DID NOT GIVE THEIR CARS, HE SHOT THEM TOO
Adatepe, stating that after the first attack the suspect began to flee, alleged that Arif Sefa Ö. wanted to take the vehicle of two people he encountered along the route.
Adatepe said, "After shooting them, he goes from there again toward the Kıyı side. While going toward Kıyı, he comes across two people on the road. He wants to change cars, and when they do not give him the car, he shoots them too. "
HE ALSO TARGETED FEMALE TEACHERS
According to Adatepe's claim, the suspect also encountered female teachers while continuing his escape. It was alleged that the suspect, who wanted to take the vehicle the teachers were in, opened fire when his request was not met.
Adatepe described this part of the incident as follows: "From there he goes around again through the Bayat side, through the Çıkrık side, and on the Fethibey road he came across female teachers on the Gazlıgöl side. He told them, 'Get out, I will change the car.' One of them got out, and one probably did not. He moved, and to take the car he shot them too. That is as much as we know. "
THE MASSACRE IN WHICH 8 PEOPLE DIED IS UNDER INVESTIGATION
The investigation into the armed attacks that took place in three villages in Afyonkarahisar and in which 8 people lost their lives continues in a multi-faceted manner. The claims regarding the cause of the massacre and what happened along the suspect's escape route are expected to be clarified within the scope of the investigation. It is stated that what Ali İhsan Adatepe recounted is based on hearsay and does not set out the finalized form of the events.
HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS AN MİT OFFICER
After the massacre, it emerged that Arif Sefa Özdemir, who fled, came across two young people at the Çatören Dam location in Kırka Neighborhood of Seyitgazi district in Eskişehir. The suspect introduced himself to 19-year-old Talha Gökgöz, who was in the car with his friend, as an officer of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT). Özdemir, who began searching the young people's car, asked whether there were any drugs in the vehicle. Then the suspect, taking the young people's phones, pulled out the gun he had with him and threatened both of them. When a shotgun was pointed at his friend, Talha Gökgöz had to give the key to his car with plate number 26 APL 557 to the suspect.
"HE POINTED A SHOTGUN AT US; I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO KILL US"
Talha Gökgöz, describing the moments of fear he experienced, said that while he and his friend stopped by the roadside to smoke, the suspect came up to them. Gökgöz described the moment of the incident in these words: "We were in Kırka Neighborhood of Seyitgazi district. My friend and I stopped the car to smoke. The suspect pulled up beside us in a car. He introduced himself as an MİT officer. At that moment he began searching the car. He asked whether there were drugs. He took our phones. He took a gun out of the car, and when he also put in bullets, I thought he was going to kill us, and then we thought he would take the car and leave. "
"I GAVE THE KEY SO THAT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN TO MY FRIEND"
Gökgöz, stating that they were afraid of the suspect's behavior, said that they saw liquor bottles inside the vehicle and thought Özdemir was drunk. The young man, who explained that at that time he was unaware of the murders in Afyonkarahisar, stated that he handed over the car key because he was worried about his friend's life. Gökgöz used the following statements: "He turned it toward my friend, and I took out the key. We took our phones from the cliff where he made us throw them and called 112. There were liquor bottles in his car; we realized he was drunk and did not ask for much identification. Since I had no knowledge of the murders, I thought he would take the car and flee. It was a terrifying process. When he pointed the shotgun at my friend, I gave the key so that nothing would happen to him. If we had not given it, he would have shot both me and my friend. "
THE CAR HE HIJACKED GOT STUCK IN THE MUD
Özdemir, who hijacked the young people's car, advanced with the vehicle as far as Taşlık Neighborhood. However, when the car got stuck in the mud, he could not continue on his way. Leaving the vehicle where it was, the suspect fled on foot for a while. Talha Gökgöz, describing the point where his car was found, said, "He also got the car stuck in the mud at this location and could not continue. He fled on foot. "
HE HIJACKED A SECOND CAR AND WAS CAUGHT
It emerged that Arif Sefa Özdemir, whose first car got stuck in the mud, hijacked another car in order to continue his escape. As a result of extensive work by security forces, the suspect was caught in Seyitgazi district of Eskişehir. It was reported that during the capture, the tires of the vehicle the suspect was using were shot. It was also learned that two gendarmerie personnel were slightly injured in the operation.
TAKEN TO THE POLICE STATION TO BE QUESTIONED
The detained suspect was brought to Eskişehir Yunus Emre State Hospital under tight security measures. Arif Sefa Ö., who underwent a medical examination at the hospital, was taken to the police station to be questioned after the procedures. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
3 PUBLIC PROSECUTORS CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION
Arif Sefa Özdemir, who was detained in Eskişehir, was handed over to Afyonkarahisar teams after undergoing a medical examination. It was learned that the suspect divorced his wife about 2 years ago, is the father of one child, and works as a farmer. The investigation into the attacks in which eight people lost their lives is being conducted by 3 public prosecutors under the coordination of the Afyonkarahisar Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The reason why the suspect carried out the attacks has not yet been determined.
MINISTER GÖKTAŞ: WE ARE BY OUR FAMILIES' SIDE WITH OUR PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT TEAMS
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş announced that following the armed attack in Afyonkarahisar, Psychosocial Support Teams are with the families in the field and at the hospital. In a post on her social media account, Minister Göktaş said, “May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives in the tragic incident in Afyonkarahisar; I offer my condolences to their families and relatives. I wish a speedy recovery to our citizen who was injured and taken to the hospital in the incident. We are with our families in the field and at the hospital with our Psychosocial Support Teams. During this process, we will continue to provide our families with the support they need.”
A BROADCASTING BAN HAS BEEN IMPOSED REGARDING THE ATTACK
The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) announced that a broadcasting ban has been imposed within the scope of the investigation into the armed attack in Afyonkarahisar. In a statement made on RTÜK's social media account, it was said: “In accordance with decision No. 2026/5725 D. İş of the Afyonkarahisar 1st Criminal Court of Peace, within the scope of investigation No. 2026/21952 conducted by the Afyonkarahisar Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a broadcasting ban has been imposed regarding the armed attack in Afyonkarahisar. The relevant decision is important in terms of preventing broadcasts that could create public outrage across the country by distorting events and spreading false information through the press, and in terms of the seriousness of the incident and the proper conduct of the investigation. It is strongly reminded that, within the framework of Law No. 6112 and relevant legislation, broadcaster organizations must carefully comply with the said court decision.”
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