03.06.2026 18:40
An armed attack occurred in front of the hotel where Dilan and Engin Polat, a couple vacationing in İzmir's Çeşme district, were staying. Can Polat, 37, Engin Polat's cousin and the couple's bodyguard, lost his life in the attack. The 23-year-old murder suspect, who fled the scene, was captured red-handed along with the weapon and taken into custody as a result of the meticulous work of the security forces. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses stated that the attacker directly targeted Can Polat.
A 23-year-old attacker who carried out an armed assault at the hotel where Dilan Polat and Engin Polat were vacationing in Izmir's Cesme district, killing Engin Polat's cousin Can Polat, who served as the couple's bodyguard, was captured with his weapon and taken into custody.
THE POLAT COUPLE'S BODYGUARD BECAME THE TARGET OF BULLETS
The incident occurred around 2:00 PM yesterday in the touristic Alacati neighborhood of Cesme. According to information obtained, an armed attack was carried out in front of the hotel where Dilan and Engin Polat were staying for a holiday. Can Polat (37), Engin Polat's cousin who also served as the couple's bodyguard, was seriously injured after becoming the target of bullets in the armed assault. Following the notification, health teams dispatched to the scene provided first aid, and Polat, a father of four, was taken to the hospital but could not be saved despite all interventions and passed away.
CAUGHT RED-HANDED
The 23-year-old murder suspect, S.A., who fled after the incident, was captured along with the crime weapon as a result of meticulous work by security forces and taken into custody.
“HE HAD BEEN WAITING ON THE STREET SINCE MORNING, SINCE 9:00 AM”
Business owner Busra Yilmazel, who was at the hotel during the attack, said, 'They were already leaving today. We were sitting in the garden, everything was fine, and we were just saying goodbye. At that moment, the bodyguards had gone to get the car. When they went out to get the car at the door, we heard three gunshots from inside. My husband immediately ran, everyone was in shock trying to understand what happened. It had no connection to the hotel; there was no armed attack on the hotel. This is Alacati, cars and people constantly pass through the streets; the incident happened on the street. The suspect had been waiting there since morning, since 9:00 AM. He waited for them to come out. After being shot, Mr. Can Polat moved toward this side, and when my husband heard the gunshots and went outside, they immediately took him inside to the room to help.'
"ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, THE GUN JAMMED"
Hotel operator Serhat Yilmazel, sharing details of the attack moment, said: 'At 9:00 AM, someone came and sat there waiting for quite a while. The incident happened in the afternoon, I think. Mr. Can Polat had come to load the luggage and belongings into the car. As we saw on the cameras, while Mr. Can Polat was standing here, the individual came and tried to shoot, but the gun jammed, I think.'
“HE DIRECTLY TARGETED MR. CAN AND FIRED”
'While Mr. Can Polat was looking at him, the individual came again and this time fired 2-3 shots. We rushed out at the sound, but the attacker had fled by then. Mr. Can Polat came inside immediately, holding himself, saying 'I've been shot.' We pulled him inside, started applying pressure, and called an ambulance. It was probably meant as a threat; he directly targeted Mr. Can and fired. It wasn't an attack on the hotel; if it were, God forbid, it could have been much worse. We brought everyone inside to prevent him from returning and doing the same thing. As observed by the shopkeepers, the individual had been sitting there since 9:00 AM waiting for them to come out.
A comprehensive investigation initiated by security units regarding the incident continues in multiple directions.