Neighborhood headman election brawl in Ankara ends in bloodshed: 23 injured, 4 critical

The incident occurred in the Satılar neighborhood of Kalecik district. According to allegations, a knife fight broke out between the relatives of the incumbent headman Fatih Akgül (45) and his rival Ö.B. (62) during the vote count.

Upon notification by bystanders, numerous gendarmerie and medical teams were dispatched to the scene. As a result of the fight, H.Ş., C.Ş., E.A., and T.S. were critically injured by stab wounds. The 4 individuals, whose lives are reportedly still in danger, were transferred to nearby hospitals in Ankara and Çankırı.

It was reported that the other 19 injured individuals involved in the incident are in good general health. The gendarmerie has launched an investigation into the incident.

"THEY STABBED 7 PEOPLE FROM MY FAMILY"

Stating that this incident occurred despite him losing the election, injured party Fatih Akgül said,

“When the election started, a crowd began to form in the vicinity. The rival headman candidate's son gathered people from outside and brought them here. They constantly provoked us. There were armed and knife-wielding people on the other side. They stabbed 7 people from my family. Two of them are being treated in the intensive care unit. These people had a grudge against us. My father served as headman for 30 years, and I served for 10 years here. We have never done any harm to anyone for 40 years.

There were about 250 of them. They insulted my children. They responded. At that time, I was inside for the vote count. I heard shouting and went outside. While I was trying to move my children away from there, I was stabbed in the back. When I went to the hospital, I was unconscious. We have had arguments with this group many times before. We were trying to stay away from each other,” he said.

News Source: İHA