How the fugitive FETÖ member from Erdoğan's assassination team was caught: He was hiding as a paper collector

Burkay Karatepe, a dismissed staff captain and the final fugitive from the 37-member team that went to a hotel in Marmaris to assassinate AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the July 15 coup attempt by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), has been captured.

It was determined that Karatepe had been hiding in Afyonkarahisar for approximately 10 years by posing as a paper and scrap collector, using the name "Salih" while working on construction sites, and that he was preparing to flee following news reports about him marking the 10th anniversary of July 15. When he was caught, a sports bag in his possession was found to contain cash, gold, and foreign currency with a total value of 6 million 409 thousand liras.

TRACKING INTENSIFIED FOR THE LAST WANTED NAME

According to a report by the Sabah newspaper, efforts against wanted FETÖ members were accelerated following an order issued by Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi at the beginning of 2026. Within this scope, intelligence activities aimed at capturing the assassination team's final fugitive, Burkay Karatepe, were increased.

As a result of operations conducted in Eskişehir, where Karatepe's family lives, and his hometown of Afyonkarahisar, it was determined that the suspect had been in the vicinity of the Yarenler neighborhood in Afyonkarahisar since February 2026.

ALLEGED TO HAVE LIVED AS A PAPER COLLECTOR

In the operations coordinated by the General Directorate of Security's Intelligence Department, it was determined that Karatepe, who allegedly acted like a paper and scrap collector to avoid drawing attention, constantly wore a hat, and lived alone, only used a GSM line registered to a person living in Antalya for short periods in the area where he resided.

Based on information obtained through Özcan A., with whom he worked on construction sites, it was determined that Karatepe used the name "Salih" and also utilized a GSM line registered to Özcan A. It is alleged that he panicked after seeing reports about him being a fugitive, prepared to flee, and moved to a derelict building in the İnaz Earthquake Houses area in the city center after purchasing food and alcohol from a shopping mall on July 31.

"I KNEW HIM AS SALIH"

Özcan A., who was detained as part of the investigation, stated in his testimony that he knew the suspect by the name "Salih" and said the following:

"On July 31, at his request, I dropped him off at the İnaz Earthquake Houses in my own vehicle. We even bought food and alcoholic beverages from a market at a shopping mall beforehand. We went to this address together; the building was derelict. We stayed there together for a few hours and had some alcohol. Later, I went to my home."

DETAINED IN AN OPERATION

It was stated that Karatepe, who was allegedly hiding in the derelict building, was tracked using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and thermal cameras. The suspect was captured in an operation conducted on the night of August 1, 2026, at approximately 00:50, while he was trying to go to the upper floors of the building with a black sports bag in his hand.

It was stated that Karatepe, who initially presented a fake ID, later revealed his true identity.

GOLD AND FOREIGN CURRENCY SEIZED IN HIS BAG

An examination of the sports bag in the suspect's possession revealed 98 Ata gold coins, 50 grams of gold bullion, 4 half-gold coins, 23 quarter-gold coins, 33 thousand 700 US dollars, and 2 thousand 620 euros in cash. It was reported that the total value of the seized money and jewelry was 6 million 409 thousand liras.

Additionally, military camouflage and various digital materials were seized at the residence.

News Source: 12punto