A shocking attack rocked the Balcova district of Izmir, Turkey, on Monday, September 8, 2025, when a 16-year-old high-school student, identified by officials as E.B., stormed a local police station with a pump-action shotgun. The incident left two police officers dead and several others wounded, sending shockwaves through Turkey’s third largest city and raising urgent questions about youth violence, security, and possible extremist motivations.
According to multiple reports, including those from Reuters and Cumhuriyet, the teenager approached the police station wearing a black balaclava and carrying a shotgun that belonged to his father. CCTV footage, widely circulated by Turkish broadcasters, captured the chilling scene: the masked assailant fired at the station from across the street before moving closer, ultimately killing a police officer standing guard at the entrance. In the chaos that followed, a police chief inspector was also fatally shot during a clash inside the building. Two other police officers and at least one civilian suffered injuries, with one officer reported to be seriously wounded.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed the arrest of the teenager, referring to him only as E.B. and noting, "one of the wounded officers had been seriously injured; the other suffered lighter injuries." The suspect was subdued by police after being shot in the leg and was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. Video footage from the scene, as described by Hurriyet and TRT, showed the wounded teenager lying on the pavement, shouting “God is Great” as officers moved in to restrain him. Bystanders could be heard yelling, “Take his weapon!” and “Call an ambulance!”—a harrowing soundtrack to an already tense and tragic event.
In the moments after the attack, the suspect reportedly reached into his rucksack and threw an object, prompting a fresh wave of panic among onlookers. Shouts of “Bomb!” and “Shoot him, brother, shoot him!” erupted from the crowd, though no explosives were ultimately found. The police responded with tight security measures, quickly cordoning off the area and launching a comprehensive investigation into the assailant’s background and possible connections.
One of the more disturbing aspects of the case is the uncertainty surrounding the teenager’s motive. Early media reports, such as those from private broadcaster NTV, suggested the attack might have been an act of retaliation. The teenager was said to have carried out the shooting just days after being released from custody, allegedly in response to mistreatment at the police station. However, Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban was quick to dispute this narrative, stating at the scene that "the suspect had no prior criminal record or previous arrest for any crime and lived in the same neighborhood as the police station." Elban emphasized that the motive was still under investigation and that there was no official evidence of prior detention or a criminal background.
Adding another layer to the investigation, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that authorities are probing the attacker’s connections. Some Turkish media outlets have reported that E.B. may have shared social media posts linked to extremist groups, including ISIL, raising the possibility that ideology played a role in the violence. However, officials have not publicly confirmed any such affiliations, and the investigation remains ongoing. As Erdoğan put it, "the connections of the 16-year-old attacker are under investigation."
The weapon used in the attack—a pump-action shotgun—was reportedly purchased by the suspect’s father a decade ago. Governor Elban told reporters, "We saw plenty of empty shotgun shells... and there were many cartridges of unused ammunition." This detail, coupled with the fact that the assailant lived on the same street as the police station, has fueled debate about firearm access, youth radicalization, and the adequacy of local security measures.
Eyewitnesses and bystanders played a dramatic role during and after the attack. Footage posted on Cumhuriyet’s website and described in multiple outlets showed civilians attempting to help police subdue the teenager, with some helping to manhandle the suspect into a police van. The chaos of the scene, punctuated by cries for help and warnings about potential explosives, underscored the vulnerability of even well-guarded public institutions to sudden, violent acts.
Izmir is no stranger to militant violence. The city has suffered attacks in the past, including a 2017 car bombing that killed two people. As Reuters notes, "Turkey has been the scene of attacks by Kurdish militants, Islamist groups and far-left organizations over the years, with security forces and state institutions often among the targets." The memory of these earlier incidents looms large as investigators work to determine whether the latest tragedy is an isolated act or part of a broader pattern of instability.
In the aftermath of the attack, Turkish authorities have faced a barrage of questions from the public and the press. Why did a teenager have access to a deadly weapon? Was this an act of personal vengeance, ideological extremism, or something else entirely? And what steps will be taken to prevent similar attacks in the future?
While the investigation continues, the families of the two slain officers, their colleagues, and the wider Izmir community are left to grapple with grief and uncertainty. The city’s police presence has been visibly increased, and security protocols at public institutions are under renewed scrutiny. For many, the attack is a stark reminder of the unpredictable threats faced by law enforcement officers—and the broader societal challenges posed by youth alienation, easy access to weapons, and the lure of extremist ideologies.
As Turkey mourns, the focus remains on uncovering the truth behind this devastating attack. The answers—when they come—will be critical not only for justice in this case but for the ongoing effort to safeguard public safety in Izmir and across the country.