Turkey: Two Police Officers Have been Killed in an Armed Attack in İzmir Amid Rising Political Tensions

Two Turkish police officers were killed and a third was wounded on Monday morning in an armed attack targeting the Salih Esgerin Police Station in the Balçova district of İzmir, in the western part of the country, according to local media reports.

The Sources explained that the attacker, which he is, 16-year-old boy, used a hunting rifle to open fire inside the station before authorities were able to arrest him. His motives have not yet been disclosed, while the security forces have launched extensive investigations to uncover the circumstances of the incident.

This attack is a shock for İzmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, which rarely experiences similar incidents, sparking a wave of concern and questions about its background amid the tense political climate.

Rising Internal Tensions
The incident comes as Turkey is experiencing increasing political unrest, with authorities imposing bans on gatherings in several districts of Istanbul and tightening restrictions on social media. These measures followed protests organized by the opposition Republican People’s Party CHP, after the controversial judicial removal of its Istanbul branch head.
Observers believe that this tense atmosphere could contribute to escalating violence, although there are currently no indications linking the attack to the protests or any political organization.

Calls for Transparency
Activists and politicians have urged the Turkish authorities to provide a clear account to the public, warning against the exploitation of the incident or leaving it vulnerable to rumors, at a time when Ankara is facing increasing security and political challenges.