10.04.2026 09:41
In the case of the police station attack in Izmir, where 3 police officers were martyred, 16-year-old terrorist Eren Bigül stated that he had no connection to the terrorist organization ISIS, but that he was influenced by videos he watched and carried out the act. He mentioned that he made a bomb at home and that his family was "infidels." Bigül, who claimed he did not receive instructions from anyone, had his detention continued, and the hearing was postponed.
In the Balçova district of İzmir, 13 defendants, 7 of whom are in custody, appeared before the judge for the first time regarding the police station attack in which 3 police officers were martyred. Eren Bigül (16), the terrorist who carried out the act, testified at the İzmir 2nd High Criminal Court, saying, "I have no connection with ISIS, but I love it. I have no knowledge about ISIS's structure in Turkey, but I was following its activities online. I was watching Baghdadi's videos. In one of his posts, he said, 'Attack Turkey.' That's why I did it. I did not receive orders from anyone."
WHAT HAPPENED? On September 8 of last year, around 09:00, Eren Bigül, wearing a mask and holding a shotgun, went to the Salih İşgören Police Station in the Çetin Emeç neighborhood of Balçova and opened fire on the guard booth. Police officer Hasan Akın, who was on duty there, was martyred. Upon hearing the gunfire, police officers on duty at the center intervened with the assailant. A conflict broke out between the police and the assailant. In the clash, first-class police chief inspector Muhsin Aydemir and police officer Ömer Amilağ were martyred, and the assailant was captured injured.
Martyr Muhsin Aydemir (left), martyr Hasan Akın (middle), and martyr Ömer Amilağ (right) 7 IN CUSTODY As part of the investigation launched regarding the attack, in addition to Eren Bigül, his father Nuhver Bigül, Iranian national Khalegh Noorıborojerdi, and Syrian nationals Mahmud Algatı, Cuma Tabbas, Fıras Seyıd Abdurrahman, and Muhammed Elhazzam were arrested. The assailant's mother A. B., along with T. Y., B. Y., and F. Ç., were released under judicial control. H. B., known by the code name 'Ebu Hanzala,' and H. K., known by the code name 'Ebu Haris,' who were detained in connection with the attack, were also released under judicial control. The investigation was completed, and an indictment was prepared for 13 suspects, 7 of whom are in custody. The indictment stated that Eren Bigül adopted the ideology of the ISIS armed terrorist organization and participated in it, sharing his ideas with his friends. It was also noted in the indictment that Bigül refused to go to school. The indictment mentioned that Bigül received armed training and was given instructions for a terrorist attack that would serve the organization's purpose.
"I HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH ISIS, BUT I LOVE IT" The trial of 13 defendants, 7 of whom are in custody, regarding the attack carried out by Eren Bigül on the police station in Balçova, İzmir, where 3 police officers were martyred, began at the İzmir 2nd High Criminal Court. It was stated that the files of the defendants, except for Eren Bigül, his father Nuhver Bigül, and his mother A. B., were separated. The hearing was attended by the detained defendants, complainants, and lawyers for the parties. Eren Bigül was given the floor first in the hearing. Bigül said, "I did not attempt to overthrow the constitutional order. I am not a member of an armed terrorist organization. I have no defense for the deceased. I have nothing to say about the attempt to kill the injured police officer. I did not intentionally injure the police officer who was wounded in the hand. I had a knife, I have no objection. I want effective remorse, I want a reduction. I have no connection with ISIS, but I love it. I have no knowledge about ISIS's structure in Turkey, but I was following its activities online. I was watching Baghdadi's videos. In one of his posts, he said, 'Attack Turkey.' That's why I did it. I did not receive orders from anyone."
"I GOT ANGRY BECAUSE OPERATIONS WERE CARRIED OUT ON THE ISLAMIC STATE" In response to the judge's question, "What did you hope to achieve by carrying out the act?" Eren Bigül said, "I got very angry because operations were carried out on the Islamic State. There was a police station near me. This state does not comply with the decrees sent down by Allah and is at war with the Islamic State. I learned this on the internet. My parents were not aware of my thoughts, but my friends were. I learned to use a weapon with air guns. There were a semi-automatic shotgun, a shotgun, and an air gun at home. My family knew that I had bought a knife. My father and I went to buy shotgun shells. We bought 'slug shells' to keep at home, but I had such thoughts since the summer."
HE MADE A BOMB AT HOME: MY FAMILY IS ALREADY INFIDELS Bigül also explained that he made a bomb at home, saying, "I was thinking about how to make it and was making a bomb. Because there is not much information about making it on the internet. I thought about making it to use in the incident. I had decided to make something in August, but I didn't know where to do it. I thought of fairs, bars, but I did not conduct reconnaissance. I was going to do something at night, but I fell asleep. I woke up in the morning, took my bag that I had prepared earlier, and went outside. Then I started to attack. I did not fire at anyone who was unarmed. I did not specifically choose the day and time of the incident. I had planned the social media posts in August. My family has no involvement; they are already infidels," he stated.
"HE WANTED THE WEAPONS HE SAW WHILE PLAYING GAMES, AND I WAS GETTING THEM" After Eren Bigül, his father, detained defendant Nuhver Bigül, was given the floor for his defense. Bigül said, "I am ashamed to say these things. If I had known my son would do such a thing, I would have prevented it. I am not against the constitutional order. My son used to pray, but I did not know he had terrorist thoughts. I did not witness the videos he watched related to ISIS. His teachers called me to school and said my son was radical. I said I was aware. I do not like Atatürk, but I have no hatred or grudge. I told his teacher these things. We took him to the mountains because my son had asthma. I used to take him hunting, and we would hunt birds in the forest. He wanted the weapons he saw while playing games on the internet, and I was getting them. I bought the shotgun shells during the coup time. If it happens again, I want to be on the side of the state. I bought the air gun for my wife to have it with her while going to work. He was actually a very nationalistic child. My son wanted anti-aircraft guns and similar weapons," he said.
MOTHER DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS In the hearing, Eren Bigül's mother A. B., who was given the floor, stated that she had no connection to the incident, saying, "I am very ashamed of the crime my child committed. I am defending myself against events I know nothing about, and I do not know what to say. I saw my son watching ISIS videos and got angry with him, I warned him. I never wanted a weapon to enter my home. He used to wear a mask at home and admired special operations. His father taught him how to use a weapon."
"DON'T HIDE BEHIND NATIONALISM" Police officer Murat Dağlı, who was injured in the attack, stated that the defendant's parents were playing the victim, saying, "His father knows how to raise him."Do not hide behind nationalism. This is what happens to children; their teachers warn them, but the family takes no precautions. The child shows no signs of remorse. While shooting me, he shouted 'Allahu Akbar'. I was injured by his shot, then I fired at him. I may end up disabled, but in the face of the pain experienced, my situation is of no importance," he said.
"HOW DID HIS FATHER ENCOURAGE HIM TO USE A WEAPON AT THIS AGE?" In the hearing, Şule Akın, the wife of the martyr police officer Hasan Akın, said, "My husband has a gun and two daughters. Even though my husband was a police officer, he kept his service weapon in the safe. While we protect our children this way, how did the defendant's father encourage him to use a weapon at this age? If he cares so much about his child's health, why did he go to the mountains with a gun? They say they are nationalists, but why do they say they do not love Atatürk? He claims to be waging jihad and calls my husband a 'kafir', but my husband used to pray five times a day," she said. The hearing will continue after the break.
"I WANT THIS PERSON TO BE TREATED AS AN ADULT" After the break, the hearing continued. Ferhat Akın, the father of martyr police officer Hasan Akın, stated that he wanted the defendants to receive the heaviest punishment, saying, "The defendant says, 'I did this incident to become a martyr.' Does he even know what martyrdom is? I am a 33-year state employee and a retired religious official. I have explained to my entire family what martyrdom is. Martyrdom does not even come close to them. My son became a martyr. I want the defendants to be punished in the harshest way and to be arrested. I want this person to be treated as an adult, not as a child," he said.
"OUR LIVER BURNED, MAY NO ONE ELSE BURN" Fatma Amilağ, the mother of martyr Ömer Amilağ, who joined the hearing via SEGBİS, said, "May my son's blood not be left on the ground. They should receive the heaviest punishment. This bullet did not just come for my son, it came for the entire police force. Our liver burned; may no one else burn," she expressed. Family members also stated that they were complaining about the defendants.
THE PROSECUTOR REQUESTED ARREST FOR THE DEFENDANT'S MOTHER IN HIS OPINION After the defenses and statements, the prosecutor presented his opinion, stating that the detention of the detained defendants should continue and that the detained defendant A. B. should be arrested.
THE HEARING WAS ADJOURNED The court panel, which announced its interim decision, ruled for the continuation of the defendants' current detention status, to obtain a report from the Forensic Medicine Institution for Eren Bigül, and to hear witnesses, and adjourned the hearing to July 28.
INDICTMENT In light of the collected evidence and statements taken, a sentence was requested for Eren Bigül for 'Attempting to overthrow the constitutional order', 'Being a member of an armed terrorist organization', 'Selling, purchasing, carrying, or possessing knives or other tools for terrorist purposes without permission', 'Killing a person due to their public duty for terrorist purposes' three times, 'Attempting to intentionally kill for terrorist purposes' four times, 'Attempting to kill a person due to their public duty for terrorist purposes' twice, 'Firing a weapon in a manner that could create fear, anxiety, or panic for terrorist purposes', 'Causing damage to property for terrorist purposes' four times, 'Causing damage to public property for terrorist purposes', 'Possessing or transferring dangerous materials for terrorist purposes without permission', and 'Violating the Law No. 6136 on Firearms, Knives, and Other Tools'.
REQUEST FOR AGGRAVATED LIFE SENTENCE FOR ALL DEFENDANTS A sentence was requested for the other 12 defendants for 'Instigation' offenses. The prosecutor requested aggravated life imprisonment for all defendants, including Eren Bigül, along with up to 261 years in prison. The indictment was accepted by the İzmir 2nd High Criminal Court.