# Avcılar horses causing traffic hazards

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/avclar-horses-causing-traffic-hazards
> Updated: 2026-07-31T06:35:08.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

In late July 2026 residents of Istanbul’s Avcılar district reported a herd of stray horses roaming streets and vacant lots, alarming driver‑candidate trainees and prompting near‑miss accidents. The community called on authorities to contain the animals to prevent traffic and environmental dangers.

A week later the source of the roaming herd was identified: horses had escaped from a nearby farm owned by Ali Rıza Akyol near Küçükçekmece Lake. The owner said a ten‑year‑old English stallion, imported from Russia, could open the farm’s latch with its mouth, allowing the animals to flee. The escaped horses continued to wander the streets, feeding on waste and threatening motorists, while the owner and local officials used camera footage to track and recapture them.

The situation progressed from a general stray‑animal nuisance to a focused effort to locate the farm, understand the horses’ behavior, and restore safety to the neighbourhood.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-31: Istanbul's Avcılar Horses Escape Farm, Roam Streets Causing Traffic Hazards

Horses escaped from a farm in Istanbul's Avcılar district after a stallion named Akyol opened the latch with its mouth, roaming streets and creating traffic risks.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbuls-avclar-horses-escape-farm-roam-streets-causing-traffic-hazards

### 2026-07-22: Stray horses in Avcılar threaten traffic safety

Stray horses in Istanbul's Avcılar district are roaming streets and driver‑training routes, creating traffic hazards and prompting calls for removal.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/stray-horses-in-avclar-threaten-traffic-safety

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Cite as: Avcılar horses causing traffic hazards. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/avclar-horses-causing-traffic-hazards