05.12.2025 17:21
The owner of the pit bull that attacked and injured two siblings in Ankara, Fatma Tuğçe Özbek Erol, stated in her testimony that her mother, Ayşe Özbek, and the children's mother, Belkız Öztürk, were arguing, and she claimed that her dog attacked the children out of protective instinct.
In the incident that occurred last Sunday in the Etimesgut district of Ankara, a pitbull dog, which was fed by the neighbors in the apartment, attacked 1.5-year-old Efe and 5-year-old Doğa Öztürk siblings as they were about to enter their home with their mother, Belkız Öztürk.
Efe, who was injured on his face, and Doğa, who was injured on her chest, were taken to the hospital. While Doğa was discharged after her treatment, Efe's treatment is still ongoing.
OWNER TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
Following the incident, Fatma Tuğçe Özbek Erol, who was accused of fleeing with her dog, was caught by the gendarmerie and arrested by the court on charges of 'causing injury to multiple people with conscious negligence.' The pitbull was seized by the Etimesgut Municipality teams and taken to a shelter.
HER STATEMENT REVEALED: ATTACKED OUT OF PROTECTIVE INSTINCT
Statements taken at the prosecutor's office regarding the incident have emerged. Suspect Fatma Tuğçe Özbek Erol stated in her testimony that the dog had been living with her for 7 years and that they had been living in the same building for 4 years. She claimed that she was at work at the time of the incident and that the dog was at home with her mother, Ayşe Özbek. Erol alleged that her mother and the children's mother, Belkız Öztürk, encountered and argued in the apartment. She claimed that during the argument, the dog, acting on its protective instinct, ran out through the ajar door, first going after Belkız Öztürk and then attacking the children, and that she returned home after her mother brought the dog inside and informed her. Erol stated that fearing her dog might be killed, she took the animal to their home in Kahramankazan and then informed the authorities about the dog's location, handing it over to the shelter.
MOTHER SAID 'THEY CAME AT ME'
The suspect's mother, Ayşe Özbek, also stated in her testimony that she told Belkız Öztürk that her children were making noise and that they would be moving because of it, and that Belkız Öztürk came at her saying, 'You also have a dog at home,' during which the dog ran out and attacked the children.