Attempted attack on scientists: They had developed a material to protect aircraft from laser weapons

In Malatya, 2 of the 4 individuals who forced an academic couple working at Inönü University—who had developed a composite material to protect aircraft against laser weapons—to stop by hitting their vehicle in traffic and then attempted to attack them, were apprehended as a result of the dedicated work of police teams.

The incident occurred in the Yakınca area of the Yeşilyurt district. According to the information obtained, a car traveling in the same direction hit the vehicle of Chemical Engineer Dr. Yeliz Toptaş and Inönü University Mechanical Engineering Department Research Assistant Murat Toptaş, who were traveling in the region in their private car, forcing the couple to stop. After the collision, 4 people who told the academic couple to pull their vehicle to the right walked toward the couple they had stopped.

ONE OF THE SUSPECTS IS A FORMER SOLDIER

At this moment, police teams passing by the scene intervened quickly. 2 of the suspects fled the scene.

The traffic team that intervened in the incident wanted to check the identities of the other 2 suspects. Footage of the suspects, who got into their vehicle and fled after the teams requested their identification, was captured on the dashcam.

After a 1-hour persistent pursuit by police teams, the 2 suspects were caught on the borders of the Doğanşehir district. It was determined that one of the suspects had a long criminal record and was wanted, while the other suspect was a former soldier who had been dismissed from his post.

The academic couple went to the police station and filed a complaint against the suspects.

STATEMENT FROM THE MALATYA POLICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE 'ATTACK ON ACADEMIC COUPLE' NEWS

The Malatya Police Department issued a statement regarding the news of the "attempted attack on an academic couple."

In the statement by the Provincial Police Department, it was recalled that some media outlets carried news stating, "An attempted attack on an academic couple who developed a composite material to protect aircraft against laser weapons in Malatya was prevented by the police."

According to the investigation, it was stated that during a property damage accident that occurred on July 21 in the Yakınca neighborhood of the Yeşilyurt district, the driver of the vehicle with license plate 44 ACS 482 caused a property damage accident by changing lanes with a sudden maneuver while the complainant M.T. was driving, and that a short-term argument subsequently took place with the complainant. The statement noted the following:

"At this time, our traffic team, which was carrying out patrol duties, intervened in the matter, and while they were performing the necessary procedures, the suspect individuals attempted to flee the scene with the vehicle with license plate 44 ACS 482 involved in the incident. Our traffic team took the vehicle in question under physical pursuit and apprehended the individuals. Upon the understanding that the suspect individual had a blood alcohol level of 1.46 promille during the checks, the necessary penal procedures were applied in terms of traffic, and the vehicle was banned from traffic. Upon the determination that the suspect named A.L.E. was wanted for the crime of 'dealing in drugs or stimulant substances,' the individual was transferred to the police station, and necessary legal proceedings were also carried out for the crimes of 'damaging property, intentional injury, and insult'."

It was stated that B.Ç., who was with the driver of the vehicle, had served as contracted military personnel between 2019 and 2020 and had left his post upon the expiration of his contract. The statement included the following expressions: "As the individual was not involved in the incident and there was no complaint against him, no judicial proceedings were initiated. The apprehended suspect named A.L.E. was taken into custody in line with the instructions received from the Malatya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and referred to judicial authorities, and was released by the court on the condition of judicial control."

Attempted attack on scientists:
They had developed a material to protect aircraft from laser weaponshttps://t.co/ZMq5Go1xPZ pic.twitter.com/4sgBqeBgTE

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) July 22, 2024

News Source: İHA