Explosives thrown at car in gas station in Istanbul, no casualties

ISTANBUL

Hand-made explosives were thrown at a car at a gas station in Istanbul’s Çağlayan neighborhood early on Dec. 9, causing damage to the vehicle and temporary hearing loss to the car’s driver, Doğan News Agency reported.

Onur Kabakçı, 33, the owner of the 34 KP 5054 plated car, went to the gas station at around 2 a.m. on Dec. 9 in Çağlayan in order to blow air into his tires. Suddenly, assailants in a vehicle passing nearby lobbed hand-made explosives in a bag at his car. 

The explosives detonated when they fell near Kabakçı’s car, while the suspects quickly fled following the incident. Damage occurred to the car as a result of the explosion but did not cause a larger explosion at the gas station. Kabakçı received treatment for temporary hearing loss.

Police teams and fire department were sent to the scene as police took security measures around the area. 

Meanwhile, a fuel tanker was just a hundred meters away from Kabakçı’s car, while Çağlayan police headquarters is also a hundred meters away from the gas station. 

An investigation was launched into the incident, while security cameras around the area have been taken in for examination by police. An operation was also launched to apprehend the people involved in the incident.