Pigeon dispute in İzmir turns into armed clash: 13 injured, 4 arrested

A dispute between two groups over missing pigeons in the Menemen district of İzmir escalated into an armed fight. A total of 13 people, including 3 children, were injured after being struck by shotgun pellets. Four suspects taken into custody during operations conducted by police teams following the incident have been arrested.

The incident occurred on August 25 at approximately 18:50 on 5. Kayaalp Street in the Kazımpaşa neighborhood. Allegedly, 16-year-old Mustafa E. claimed that his missing pigeons were found in the possession of Nefes K. Following this, an argument broke out between Nefes K.'s father, Sergen K., and Mustafa E.

As the argument intensified, it is reported that Mustafa E. opened fire with a rifle he retrieved from his home, and Sergen K. responded by firing into the air and toward the other side with a licensed hunting rifle belonging to his wife. As relatives of both parties joined the fray in the street, the incident turned into a mutual armed clash.

LARGE NUMBER OF TEAMS DISPATCHED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Upon reports from neighbors who heard the gunfire, police and medical teams were dispatched to the area. To support the Menemen District Police Department teams, 20 public order units, 16 motorcycle-mounted Yunus teams, and 2 riot police squads were sent to the neighborhood. The fight was brought under control through police intervention.

As a result of the gunfire, Işıl E. (37), Aykut E. (12), Asil E. (9), Mihriban E. (33), Can E. (32), Esma E. (43), Kazım B. (9), Deniz S. (53), Mustafa E. (16), Filiz K. (39), Zeynel T. (45), Ufuk K. (40), and Ferdi K. (47) were injured. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals by ambulance after receiving initial medical attention.

It was learned that among those under treatment, Esma E. is in critical condition due to pellets striking her eye, neck, head, and lung area, while the other 12 injured individuals are not in life-threatening condition.

Following the incident, police teams launched an investigation and conducted simultaneous operations at 17 addresses in the Kazımpaşa neighborhood. During the searches, a pump-action shotgun, an automatic hunting rifle, cartridges, a machete, a sword, synthetic pharmaceutical pills, and a quantity of narcotics were seized.

Can E. (32), Mustafa E. (16), Sergen K. (33), and Gökhan K. (28), who were taken into custody as part of the investigation, were referred to the Menemen Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on August 27 following their processing at the police station. The 4 suspects were brought before a judge and subsequently arrested and sent to prison. It was reported that the investigation is ongoing.

News Source: 12punto