A 16 year old boy was taken into custody on Monday after allegedly carrying out a shotgun attack that left two police officers dead at a station in western Turkey, according to the country’s interior minister.
The incident happened in the Balcova district of Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city. Authorities confirmed that two other officers and a civilian were also injured in the assault, with one of the officers reported to be in critical condition.
Officials said the attacker first gunned down a police officer standing guard outside the station. A police chief inspector was then killed during an exchange of fire that followed, Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban announced.
“The assailant, a 16 year old male, has been captured. Investigations into his background and connections are ongoing. I extend my condolences to our entire police force,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated in his address on Monday.
Local sources revealed that the suspect lived on the same street as the station and sustained injuries while being detained.
