# Turkey murder investigations and security updates 2026 > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-murder-investigations-2026 > Updated: 2026-08-08T09:48:20.000Z. Sources: 37. Developments: 2. In late July 2026, Turkish police captured seven suspects linked to the murder of wedding photographer Ferhat Açık in Van. The suspects confessed to kidnapping, beating, stabbing, and throat-cutting the victim before attempting to steal his car and forge documents. Following this, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced the resolution of two cold cases involving child deaths. In the first, the 2024 death of 14-year-old Damlanur Sarihan in Van was reclassified as a homicide following investigations into conflicting family statements. In the second, the January 2026 death of 4-year-old Yunus Emre Yakar in Afyonkarahisar was determined to be a beating rather than a fall, leading to the arrest of the child's stepfather for intentional killing and his grandfather for negligence and evidence tampering. In August 2026, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek and Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi inspected Esenyurt to discuss regional security and infrastructure. Minister Çiftçi reported a 40% increase in security personnel since 2023 and noted the capture of approximately 7,500 wanted individuals in the first seven months of the year. Plans for the district include a new government house by 2027 and an expanded police presence to achieve a ratio of one station per 100,000 citizens. Minister Gürlek emphasized an intensified crackdown on drug trafficking, illegal betting, and street gangs. Additionally, he announced the passage of the Child Protection Law in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, designed to strengthen the justice system for minors and implement more deterrent sanctions for crimes against children. ## Claims - A suspicious object, assessed to be an unmanned sea vehicle, was spotted near Sugören Fishing Harbor in Hopa. (disputed by 6 sources) - The suspicious object was identified as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) following underwater imaging and analysis. (disputed by 2 sources) - SAS Commando units are scheduled to arrive by military aircraft to perform a controlled detonation of the object. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The Kemalpaşa-Hopa highway was temporarily closed to two-way traffic due to the object's proximity to the shore. (corroborated by 6 sources) - No evacuations of homes in the area have been ordered. (corroborated by 6 sources) - There is no reason for concern regarding the suspicious object found off the coast of Hopa. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Security forces established a 600-meter safety perimeter around the object. (single source) - The object was successfully destroyed through a controlled detonation in open water. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-08: Hopa, Turkey: Unmanned aerial vehicle destroyed after discovery off coast A suspicious object, identified as an unmanned aerial vehicle, was discovered off the coast of Hopa, Turkey. SAS Commando units conducted a controlled detonation after temporary road closures. 37 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-justice-minister-confirms-murders-of-two-children-in-van-and-afyonkarahisar ### 2026-07-29: Ferhat Açık murder suspects captured in Van Ferhat Açık, a 21‑year‑old wedding photographer, was found murdered in an Arnavutköy forest. Seven suspects, led by Okan K., were captured in Van – two in the city and one near the Iran border with UAV aid – to 18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wedding-photographer-ferhat-ak-found-dead-suspects-arrested-in-van --- Cite as: Turkey murder investigations and security updates 2026. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-murder-investigations-2026