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Traffic on the 15 July Martyrs Bridge halted for a time due to an individual protest

It was reported that the 15 July Martyrs Bridge was closed to traffic in both directions for an unknown reason. Police teams were dispatched to the scene. The first statement regarding the incident came from Minister of Interior Yerlikaya. Details about the protest have emerged.

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The 15 July Martyrs Bridge was closed to traffic in both directions due to a suspicious vehicle.

In the first statement made by the Istanbul Governor's Office, it was stated that the incident on the bridge was assessed as an individual act and that the police had stopped bridge traffic.

According to information obtained, a suspicious vehicle stopped on the 15 July Martyrs Bridge at approximately 22:14.

VEHICLE WITH 'SMA' WRITTEN ON IT

The Istanbul Police went on alert due to the suspicious vehicle. While "SMA" was written on the vehicle, traffic was stopped in both directions. Kilometers-long vehicle queues formed in traffic.

“AN INDIVIDUAL ACT”

While police teams were dispatched to the scene, the first statement from the Istanbul Governor's Office included the following: "We assess the incident on the bridge as an individual act. The police have stopped bridge traffic as a precautionary measure."

Traffic flow resumed from the Anatolian side toward the European side after a while.

STATEMENT FROM MINISTER YERLIKAYA

Finally, a statement regarding the events came from Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya.

Sharing on social media, Yerlikaya said, "Due to a vehicle with SMA written on it blocking the road at 22:14 on the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, bridge traffic was closed in both directions.

It has been determined that the individual driving the vehicle, identified as R. C. Ç., has been receiving treatment for bipolar disorder for 1.5 years. Our police officers negotiated with the individual, and the individual was persuaded and taken into custody. The public will be informed of developments."

The 15 July Martyrs Bridge, which was closed to traffic as a precaution due to an individual act, was reopened to traffic as of 23:30.

DETAILS OF THE PROTEST ON THE 15 JULY MARTYRS BRIDGE EMERGE

Details have been reached regarding the protest carried out by a suspect who blocked the road with his vehicle on the 15 July Martyrs Bridge.

According to the information received, when police teams noticed the vehicle stopped on the bridge and approached the car, they saw that the person sitting in the driver's seat was holding a pin with a red wire.

The teams, who reported the situation to the police station, closed the 15 July Martyrs Bridge to traffic as a precaution. Meanwhile, Bomb Disposal and Investigation Branch teams, reinforcement units, and police negotiators were dispatched to the scene.

It was stated that R.C.Ç. in the vehicle told the negotiating teams, who were talking to him to get him to surrender, that he resorted to such an act so that the state would help SMA patients and that he wanted to speak with a high-ranking state official.

It was noted that the suspect was taken into custody by police teams after negotiations that lasted approximately 1 hour.