Turkish police arrest 7 suspects plotting assassination of rapper Hakan Aydın
Police investigations linked two April incidents in Istanbul — an arson in Beşiktaş and a shooting in Beylikdüzü — to the same group of perpetrators. Following coordinated tracking by Istanbul’s Gasp Bureau and Muğla police, seven suspects, including two women, were apprehended in Bodrum, Muğla province. The suspects belong to the organized‑crime network known as the “Şapkalılar” gang. Searches of their residences and vehicles uncovered four unlicensed pistols, six magazines and roughly 86‑88 rounds of ammunition.
Forensic analysis of the detainees’ smartphones revealed a Signal chat group called “Blok” in which they discussed a plan to assassinate the rapper Hakan Aydın, who performs under the stage name “Blok3”. The group shared the artist’s hotel details, car information and location coordinates, describing the intended act as a “big event that would make noise across Turkey”. During police questioning the suspects denied any plot, insisting they were on holiday in Bodrum. All seven were subsequently taken to court, found guilty and sentenced to prison.
Entities: Bodrum (Muğla Province) · Hakan Aydın · Istanbul Police Department · Muğla Provincial Police · Muğla police · Volkan Ramazan Ayhan · Şapkalılar crime gang · Şapkalılar gang
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 12 SOURCES] The organized crime group involved is known as the “Şapkalılar” gang. (Police reports)
- [● 13 SOURCES] The suspects shared Hakan Aydın's hotel, car and location details within the Signal group. (Chat content analysis)
- [● 12 SOURCES] All seven suspects were taken to court, found guilty and sentenced to prison. (Judicial ruling)
- [● 13 SOURCES] Police seized four unlicensed pistols, six magazines and roughly 86‑88 rounds of ammunition. (Search of suspects' belongings)
- [● 13 SOURCES] The suspects were linked to an April arson in Beşiktaş and a shooting in Beylikdüzü. (Police investigation)
- [● 13 SOURCES] The suspects denied involvement, claiming they were on holiday in Bodrum. (Police interrogations)
- [● 13 SOURCES] The suspects' phones showed they created a Signal group named “Blok” to plan an assassination of rapper Hakan Aydın. (Digital forensics)
- [● 13 SOURCES] Seven suspects were arrested in Bodrum, Muğla province. (Policing operation)