Istanbul, Turkey – A devastating shooting spree in the Celaliye neighborhood of Istanbul ended tragically after leaving seven people dead, including the perpetrator himself, who turned the gun on himself following the rampage. The gunman, identified as 33-year-old Bahtiyar Aladağ, fatally shot several of his family members including his parents and sister, and then killed a local hairdresser before concluding his violent outburst with his own death.
Initial reports from law enforcement indicate that the incident began in the family home, where Aladağ entered into an argument which quickly escalated to fatal violence. He shot his 65-year-old father, Muhammet Aladağ, his 55-year-old mother, Necmiye Aladağ, and his 30-year-old sister, Buket Aladağ. His father died at the scene while his mother and sister succumbed to their injuries later in the hospital.
After fleeing the scene in Celaliye, Aladağ drove to a nearby district in Avcılar and attacked a hairdresser’s shop, killing Mehmet Salih Özsökük, a 30-year-old man working there. During this attack, Aladağ also critically wounded the hairdresser’s wife and her brother.
He then continued to Esenyurt, where he murdered his 33-year-old cousin, Şadan Serdar Buke. Shortly after this killing, Aladağ committed suicide.
Adding to the grim tally, authorities discovered the bodies of Aladağ’s wife, 35-year-old Sevim Aladağ, their 10-year-old son Arsal Aladağ, and Aladağ’s mother-in-law, Türkan Soylu, near Büyükçekmece Lake in what appeared to be a related sequence of killings.
Istanbul officials confirmed that Aladağ had a documented criminal record, including previous drug charges, fueling speculation about motives and the background leading to the shocking events.
At the scene of Aladağ’s suicide, police found a firearm and nine spent cartridge cases, which are being analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation into the tragic incidents.
This series of violent acts has deeply shaken the community and touched off a broader discussion about gun violence and security measures in Istanbul neighborhoods. Many are now mourning the loss of life and are calling for improved oversight and preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future.
As the city grapples with the aftermath, local authorities and community leaders are reaching out to support the families of the victims while ensuring that such devastating events do not repeat. The community’s response, aiming to strengthen familial and societal bonds, reflects a collective aspiration to restore peace and safety.