08.05.2026 16:53
The statement of the police officer who cut off a car's path and fired into the air after a traffic argument in Beşiktaş has been revealed. The police officer, who was reportedly off duty during the incident, said in his statement that he fired into the air because he believed his wife and child with him could be harmed. The driver, on the other hand, claimed he was threatened with the words "I will give you the heaviest punishment that can be written in your life."
On April 7 at 18:36, in the Konaklar neighborhood of Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, on the TEM Highway at the Harp Academies Tunnel, police officer S.Z., who was moving in traffic, allegedly argued with a driver claiming that a vehicle was behaving in a way that endangered traffic. After the argument, the vehicle left the scene.
THE ARGUMENT CONTINUED ON THE BRIDGE ROAD
Shortly after, the parties confronted each other again at the Etiler junction in the direction of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. According to the claim, when Fatih A. and Samet D. got out of the vehicle with license plate 35 CEJ 043, which was traveling in a convoy, police officer S.Z. fired one shot into the air.
"I FIRED INTO THE AIR THINKING MY FAMILY COULD BE HARMED"
Upon the report, police teams arrived at the scene and took the parties to the police station. It was stated that an investigation was launched for 'Threat with a weapon', 'Threat by multiple people', and 'Insult' crimes upon the order of the public prosecutor. A hand swab (gunshot residue test) was taken from police officer S.Z., and it was noted that the weapon used in the incident was returned to him after examination. It was stated that the parties were released after their statements were taken. Police teams began reviewing the footage related to the incident. It was stated that police officer S.Z. was off duty during the incident, and in his statement, he said he fired into the air because he thought his wife and child, who were with him, could be harmed.
"HE CUT ME OFF AND THREATENED ME"
The driver involved in the traffic argument said, "Today, one kilometer before the Bosphorus Bridge, we had an argument with a citizen in traffic. The citizen cut me off, showed his police ID, and threatened me by saying, 'I will give you the heaviest penalty possible in your life. You'll see.' I kept my calm and said, 'If you can write it, write it; we'll pay, no problem.' I continued on my way and closed my window. Further ahead, he blocked my path and started arguing again. He showed his police ID again and insulted me. He got out of the car and fired into the air. Now I ask the authorities, do you give police IDs to have superiority in traffic? Do you give guns so that when someone has a traffic argument, they can cut you off and fire into the air?" he said.