Police statement revealed: Arsonist who set fire to forest in Bursa demands acquittal!

Ufuk Aytekin (30), who was seen as suspicious by citizens in the forest during the forest fire that broke out between Orhaneli and Harmancık and was found to have a gasoline canister in the bed of his pickup truck with license plate 03 HK 184, was detained by Harmancık District Police Department teams upon a complaint for allegedly starting a fire in Kışmanlar village and was arrested for the crime of "Arson".

Aytekin, who was interrogated by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror and Organized Crime Investigation Bureau, stated in his testimony that he was born in Bursa in 1995 and explained that he studied at the İzmir Air Non-Commissioned Officer Vocational School between 2013 and 2015 and graduated.

Stating that he started his duty at the Balıkesir 9th Main Jet Base at the beginning of 2017, Aytekin said that he was detained in April 2019 for being a member of the FETÖ/PDY armed terrorist organization and was suspended from duty as a precaution.

Emphasizing that the case was concluded in 2019, Aytekin noted the following in his statement:

"I was permanently dismissed from the profession in 2021. Currently, I have no connection, contact, or affiliation with any terrorist organization. I have psychological problems. I have been taking psychiatric medication for two years, up until the last month. My relationship with my family is bad. The vehicle with license plate 03 HK 184 belongs to me. I bought this vehicle about two weeks ago. No one other than me uses this vehicle.

On July 27, around 21:30, I bought 2 bottles of 5-liter water from a gas station on the Harmancık-Bursa highway where I had worked before. After emptying these water bottles, I gave them to the pump attendant and bought 500 liras worth of 10 liters of gasoline. I bought this gasoline to be used in chainsaws. My intention was to help the staff working there."

Explaining that he went to Çakmak Neighborhood to help with firefighting efforts after buying gasoline, Aytekin said, "When I realized that there would be no need for help there, I entered the return road from Harmancık center. When I entered the Kışmanlar village road, I wanted to burn the wooded area on the side of the road in a momentary state of mind. At the same time, I wanted the atmosphere in the village to be stirred up, for there to be chaos among the villagers, and for there to be a senseless confusion."

Stating that he got out of his vehicle, Aytekin continued his statement as follows:

"It was around 22:30 as I recall. I walked 10 meters from the roadside into the wooded area. These trees were pine trees as I recall. I poured the gasoline from one 5-liter canister I took from the car to the base of the trees.

The other canister remained in the car. Then I lit the lighter. At this moment, the place suddenly caught fire, I could not understand what happened. Burns occurred on my left wrist and left ankle. At this moment, the phone in my right pocket fell into the flames. I also fled the scene in fear. I committed this act in a momentary state of mind and out of negligence. I went home after the incident. I live alone.

I have no connection with a terrorist organization. I did not receive instructions from any terrorist organization while committing this act. I am very regretful for this act. I carried out this act entirely on my own decision.

I do not know if anyone else started the fires that occurred in other parts of Bursa. Even if someone did, I do not know them. I have no contact with anyone. I accept the accusation against me."

Aytekin, who was referred to the 1st Criminal Judgeship of Peace by the prosecutor's office with a request for arrest, explained in his statement there that he only burned a partial area where the tanker was on the side of the road while the forest fire was ongoing, saying, "I did this out of ignorance, the situation was very chaotic, my mind was also confused, I request to be released to be tried without arrest."