21.02.2026 16:16
27-year-old Oğuzhan Çöpür, who tried to save a child attacked by a group of under-18s in Bağcılar, was stabbed six times in the attack. While Çöpür, whose internal organs were damaged and who received dozens of stitches in his abdomen, continues to receive treatment, his family reported that they have been receiving threatening messages. As the number of street gangs in Istanbul increases, it has caused concern, bringing to mind the murder of Atlas Çağlayan. One suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Street gangs under the age of 18, which are increasing in number every day in Istanbul, continue to spread terror. The latest incident occurred in the Bağcılar district. Allegedly, a large group of minors surrounded a child, slapping and beating him. At that moment, Oğuzhan (27) and his brother Taha Çöpür, who were waiting for their friends, noticed the situation and warned the children not to fight.
EXPERIENCED TERROR WHILE TRYING TO HELP It was learned that the group reacted by saying, "This is our issue, don't interfere." As the beaten child moved away from the scene, a verbal argument broke out between the brothers and the large group. As the argument escalated, one person from the group stabbed Oğuzhan Çöpür six times with a knife. Brother Taha Çöpür tried to protect his brother by fighting back against the attackers. It was reported that after stabbing Oğuzhan Çöpür, the attackers threw stones at him and fled the scene. The moments of the attack and stabbing were captured second by second by nearby security cameras.
THEY SENT THREATENING MESSAGES While Oğuzhan Çöpür, who was taken to the hospital and determined to have received six stab wounds, continued his treatment at home, it was claimed that the family received threatening messages. The family alleged that they were contacted and pressured not to file a complaint, with their address information being disclosed to them. As a result of the stab wounds, his internal organs were damaged. While dozens of stitches were applied to his abdomen, it was learned that his treatment was ongoing.
The incident, which brings to mind the murder of Atlas Çağlayan, has once again raised concerns about street gangs and the regulation of children involved in crime. Claims that small groups of minors are forming gangs and getting involved in crimes in some districts of Istanbul are causing anxiety among local residents.
"A LOT HAS GONE FROM MY LIFE RIGHT NOW" Oğuzhan Çöpür stated, "On the day of the incident, we were waiting for our friend at the metro exit. A group of 10 had surrounded a child. When I saw that 10 people had surrounded one person, I spoke to the children saying, 'Bro, let the child go. Why are you hitting him?' They responded with things like, 'Why are you interfering? It doesn't concern you. This is our issue.' A child on the left took out a cutting tool, a butterfly knife, and started swinging it around. I received the first blow to my abdomen at that moment. Then another friend also received a blow to his leg in the same way. After that, when I tried to run towards him to take it from his hand, I received five blows to my leg. I couldn't stand anymore due to blood loss. I collapsed. So, that's how the incident happened. After I collapsed, I saw that they threw a stone at my head while fleeing. Right now, we are receiving threatening messages, voice recordings. For example, calls are happening. They say, 'Don't file a complaint. We will solve everything.' They threaten our family by saying, 'If you file a complaint, we will solve it differently.' A lot has gone from my life right now. The child in Güngören passed away. I might not have been so lucky; I could have been the same. As a family, we are scared right now," he said.
"IT WAS MY CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY THAT DAY" Oğuzhan's father, Fevzi Çöpür, said, "A person with humanity would not stab someone they don't know who is trying to help. These are not even human. They are using these children who are 16-17 years old. The police catch 2-3 of them. But they have someone behind them. They have acquaintances. My children are bright. My children are good, and they are in this situation just because they wanted to help a child they didn't know. That day was my children's birthday. We were going to celebrate their birthday in the evening. They were both born on the same day. We are in a devastated situation. The man even tells me my mother's name. My mother is 80 years old. My father has passed away, but he mentions my father's name. How would a 17-year-old child know that? If there wasn't someone behind them? Can they solve this? How can they easily find out my mother's name, my father's name, where I live, my address?" he said.
"WE TURNED BACK FROM THE EDGE OF THE SAME SITUATION" Father Çöpür said, "We turned back from the edge of the same situation. If our child is lying at home today, Allah has granted us our child again. You will threaten us. You will stab us; how irrational. I am in the hospital struggling for my life. While I am wondering if my child will come back to life, the phone rings. They are threatening me. It's not that easy. If there wasn't a power behind this, if there wasn't gang formation, they couldn't do this. I cried on television with the parents of Ahmet Minguzzi and Atlas Çağlayan. But I never thought that one day they would put me in the same situation. Today, we are living the same fate as those children. Our only luck was that his brother was with him and that his brother rushed him to the hospital. Otherwise, we would have shared the same fate as Ahmet and those children and their families. Because the events are almost entirely the same," he explained.
"GANGS ARE ROAMING THE STREETS" Father Çöpür stated that the fight against street gangs needs to be carried out quickly and effectively, saying, "Not only the one who threw that knife but also those who helped the one who threw it, those who stood behind him, and those who supported the one who threw the knife need to be gathered quickly so that society can free itself from this. Right now, society is anxious. They are in the same incident. One of the stabs hit him. He only gave a statement at the police station. He said he couldn't deal with this. The child was scared; he said he has a life. They will extinguish my life, they will kill me."I begged the child, I begged. I said, "Come on, son, there is a state. The state won't throw us in front of them. Come and file a complaint, strongly. You have been stabbed too, you have a wound as well." "No, brother," he said, "I am not filing a complaint." In no way did he inform his family about his wound, and the child received treatment in the hospital. He probably went in the same ambulance. After being treated in the hospital, the child ran away. So he didn't even file a complaint out of fear. There are hundreds like this. "Güngören, Bağcılar, Esenyurt, gangs are roaming the streets," he said.
ONE SUSPECT ARRESTED The police launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Teams examining the security cameras in the area detained 3 young suspects involved in the incident. The suspects, whose procedures were completed at the police station, were referred to the courthouse for the crime of 'Intentional Injury.' While 2 of the suspects were released under judicial control by the court they were brought to, 1 suspect was arrested and sent to prison.